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Christianus Ravius: an Intellectual Biography
1. The Wanderjahre
Series: - The History of Oriental Studies, Volume: 16
Author:
Christianus Ravius (Christian Raue, 1613-1677) led a life of remarkable variety, which illustrates many aspects of the career of a scholar in seventeenth century Europe. This biography, the first full-length treatment of him since 1744, covers the first three decades of his eventful career, from the Gymnasium in his native Berlin through Germany, Scandiniavia, Holland, England and the Ottoman Empire. Drawing on much previously unexploited evidence, and on detailed analyses of his numerous published works, it presents a picture of a scholar trying to establish himself in the Republic of Letters, cultivating the acquaintance of many contemporary scholars, including such great names as Hugo Grotius, John Selden, James Ussher, Claudius Salmasius, Johannes Buxtorf II, G. J. Vossius and Jaobus Golius.
In the background of his precarious existence looms the Thirty Yearsâ War, which was a cause not only of his parentsâ early death but also of the devastation of his familyâs estate and his persistent poverty. Despite his failure to obtain a permanent position in any 0f the universities with which he was associated during this time, he persisted in promoting the study of oriental languages, especially Arabic. This led to his stay of two years in Constantinople and other parts of the Ottoman Empire, where he managed to acquire the remarkable collection of oriental manuscripts which was an important element in his attempts to attain employment and recognition. This study includes an account of the identity and present location of almost three hundred of those manuscripts, and also an edition of many unpublished letters from his extensive correspondence which are relevant to the narrative of his life. Raviusâs idiosyncratic theories on linguistic history receive due attention.
In the background of his precarious existence looms the Thirty Yearsâ War, which was a cause not only of his parentsâ early death but also of the devastation of his familyâs estate and his persistent poverty. Despite his failure to obtain a permanent position in any 0f the universities with which he was associated during this time, he persisted in promoting the study of oriental languages, especially Arabic. This led to his stay of two years in Constantinople and other parts of the Ottoman Empire, where he managed to acquire the remarkable collection of oriental manuscripts which was an important element in his attempts to attain employment and recognition. This study includes an account of the identity and present location of almost three hundred of those manuscripts, and also an edition of many unpublished letters from his extensive correspondence which are relevant to the narrative of his life. Raviusâs idiosyncratic theories on linguistic history receive due attention.
G. J. Toomer was educated at Oxford and Brown Universities and is Professor Emeritus of the History of Mathematics at Brown University. He has published extensively on the history of mathematics and astronomy, and on seventeenth-century intellectual history. His most recent book is John Selden: a Life in Scholarship (Oxford, 2009)
Preface
List of Figures
Preliminary Note
1 Early Years and Education (1613â1635)
2 First Travels (1636â1639)
3 In the East (June 1639âMay 1641)
4 English Interlude (October 1641âMarch 1642)
5 Wanderings in the Netherlands and Denmark (April 1642âSeptember 1643)
6 Employment at Utrecht (October 1643âJune 1644)
7 Employment at Amsterdam (July 1644âMay 1647)
8 A Career in England (June 1647âJanuary 1650)
9 Appointment in Sweden (1649â1669)
Appendices
Appendix A: Funeral Oration over Ravius
Appendix B: Raviusâs Printed Works
Appendix C: The Date of Birth of Ravius
Appendix D: Biography of Johann Raue Senior
Appendix E: Raviusâs 1630 School Exercise
Appendix F: Locations of Manuscripts Owned by Ravius
Appendix G: Correspondence of Ravius Referenced in the Text
Bibliography
Index
List of Figures
Preliminary Note
1 Early Years and Education (1613â1635)
2 First Travels (1636â1639)
3 In the East (June 1639âMay 1641)
4 English Interlude (October 1641âMarch 1642)
5 Wanderings in the Netherlands and Denmark (April 1642âSeptember 1643)
6 Employment at Utrecht (October 1643âJune 1644)
7 Employment at Amsterdam (July 1644âMay 1647)
8 A Career in England (June 1647âJanuary 1650)
9 Appointment in Sweden (1649â1669)
Appendices
Appendix A: Funeral Oration over Ravius
Appendix B: Raviusâs Printed Works
Appendix C: The Date of Birth of Ravius
Appendix D: Biography of Johann Raue Senior
Appendix E: Raviusâs 1630 School Exercise
Appendix F: Locations of Manuscripts Owned by Ravius
Appendix G: Correspondence of Ravius Referenced in the Text
Bibliography
Index
university and academic libraries; teachers and graduate students in early modern history; the history of oriental studies; the history of universities; early modern travels