Scientific Journal Science and Civilization in Islam

Scientific Journal Science and Civilization in Islam

Establishment of the Sir Thomas Adams''''s Professor of Arabic at the University of Cambridge: Backgrounds, Obstacles, and Achievements

Document Type : Extension

Author
Reza Adabi Firozjaee
PhD student, Department of History and Civilization of Islamic Nations, Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
10.22034/icrs.2024.460911.1272
Abstract
The Sir Thomas Adams''s Professorship of Arabic was established in 1632 at the University of Cambridge through the efforts of Abraham Wheelock and Thomas Adams, marking the beginning of academic Arabic language studies in England. The main question of this paper is: Why and how was the Sir Thomas Adams''s Professorship of Arabic at Cambridge University established, and what were its achievements? The data for this research was collected through library methods and processed using a descriptive-analytical approach. This study shows that the establishment of this chair was influenced by the existing historical context, new developments in the 16th and 17th centuries, and the motivations of that era. Various factors, including religious motivations and the connection between learning this language and the interpretation of the Bible, cultural and scientific developments, the need for Oriental studies for economic purposes, and broader interactions with the Islamic world, contributed to the founding of this Professorship. The Professorship of Arabic at Cambridge faced numerous challenges for its development. These obstacles were due to the prevailing academic environment in England and the specific circumstances of Cambridge University. For example, the lack of reliable and sufficient resources, shortage of specialized professors, and cultural resistance were among the challenges facing the chair. Nevertheless, this academic institution did not remain hindered by these challenges and brought significant achievements to the academic study of Arabic in England.
Keywords
Arabic language
Orientalism
England
University of Cambridge
Sir Thomas Adams’s professorship of Arabic
Subjects
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Scientific Journal Science and Civilization in Islam
Volume 5, Issue 19
Spring 2024
Pages 90-115

  • Receive Date 03 June 2024
  • Revise Date 09 September 2024
  • Accept Date 09 September 2024