Calligraphy was one of the earliest art forms developed by Muslims: its cornerstones were laid as early as the first century after the hijra, during the Umayyad caliphate, giving the script a visual sophistication largely unprecedented in the Mediterranean world. In this lecture, based primarily on objects seen in the Midad exhibition, we will glimpse at the main lines of these developments in the Islamic world, from West Africa to China.

Alain Fouad George: Senior Lecturer, Islamic Art, University of Edinburgh.