The National Library and Archives Publishes a New Issue of Liwa Filled with Historical Research, Enriching Readers’ Knowledge
The National Library and Archives has published a new issue of the historical refereed Liwa journal. This issue is abundant with topics related to the history and heritage of the UAE, the Arabian Gulf region and the Arabian Peninsula.
Through the historical, geographical, and archaeological gateway of the city of Tawam (Tu’am), readers enter the new issue. It begins with research written by Dhia Al Deen Abdullah Al Tawalba on the meaning of ” Tu’am” or “Tawam” as found in Arabic dictionaries. Then, it explores what al-Zamakhshari wrote about it in his book “al-Jibal wa-al-amkinah wa-al-miyah” (Mountains, Places, and Waters), and by Yaqut al-Hamawi in his book “Mu’jam al-Buldan” (The Dictionary of Countries), alongside writings by historians in their works. The research then delves into archaeological findings, leading to the oasis of Al Ain and its settlement sequence since the period of Wadi Suq (2000-1600 BC), affirming that Tawam flourished in the pre-Islamic and early Islamic periods.
The second research is by Dr. Mabrouk Mohammed al-Dhamaari in which he investigates archaeological study titled “The Ribat School in Rada’a in Yemen”. He emphasizes the significant attention and scholarly interest in schools across Islamic countries, highlighting Yemen’s extensive role in establishing these institutions in its cities and villages. The architectural diversity of these schools has sparked significant interest among scholars.
Al-Dhamaari traces the history of the Ribat school back to the Tahirid dynasty of Yemen (858-923 H). The Rabat school holds historical, aesthetic, and heritage significant as one of the prominent Islamic buildings contributing to the urban fabric of Rada’a city. Today, the school continues to function as a mosque where daily prayers are performed. The research not only present the school’s history and its purpose, but also provides insights into its architectural design as both a school and a mosque.
The third research written by Dr. Ahmed Al Saidi explores a rare journey of an unknown Moroccan author to Hejaz in 1934 AD /1352 H. Meanwhile, Dr. Khawla Al-Alili contributed with the fourth research, titled “The Historical Stages of The Development of Education in The United Arab Emirates to The Beginning of The Union”. The research indicates that tracing the evolution of education in the UAE reveals ancient teaching methods and genuine progress. It did not occur suddenly or independently of the surrounding conditions of Emirati society at that time; rather, it passed through several stages and was influenced by various factors that contributed to its development.
Dr. Ali Afifi Ali Ghazi enriches the issue with his research titled “The Importance of The Ottoman Archives In Documenting The History of The Gulf and The Arabian Peninsula”, referring to the richness of Turkish archives with a vast amount of documents that contribute to documenting the Arab region; because the Ottoman Empire occupied and administered the Arab region from the era of Sultan Selim I (1512-1520) until the outbreak of World War I (1914-1918).
In this issue of Liwa, readers are introduced to the contents of Emad bin Jassim Al Baharani’s book “Characteristics of Portuguese Rule in the Arabian Gulf and Oman 1521-1622 AD.”
Furthermore, the journal features several English-language research articles, including “The Historical Origins of The Emirate of Abu Dhabi” written by the Researcher Hamdan Al Darei’s, and the Researcher Moza Al Hammadi’s examination of “The United Arab Emirates, the Arabian Gulf, and France: Cultural Openness and Diplomatic History from 1950 to the present,” among other scholarly contributions.