Books with purple parchment and gold lettering, both pagan and Christian, were known in ancient Rome, early Islamic Baghdad and early medieval Spain. … Read the post purple parchment, gold-lettered books across time and space
Within four centuries after Julius Caesar’s death, the Panchatantra used a cowardly donkey in playing with Caesar’s boast in Latin: “veni, vidi, vici.” … Read the post Panchatantra plays with Julius Caesar’s veni, vidi, vici
Christians in China survived between the Tang and Yuan Dynasties despite persecutions and little Christian institutional support. … Read the post Christians in China between Tang and Yuan Dynasties
Bar Sauma, a Christian born in China, debated with cardinals in Rome. Franciscan Friar William of Rubruck debated in the Mongol court in central Eurasia. … Read the post Bar Sauma and Rubruck’s experiences of learned religious debate
Wāqid’s account of Bābak and the Khurramī uprising figuratively denigrated Bābak and his fellow Khurramīs’ pre-Islamic, non-Arabic culture. … Read the post Bābak and the Khurramī revolt according to Wāqid's account