Qatar National Library houses one of the most important collections of travel books produced by Western travelers to the Middle East and North Africa. These offer a unique perspective on the region and the fascinating accounts of Qatar documented by travelers, sailors and explorers across various periods provide valuable insights into the country’s cultural, political, economic, and geographical history. 

In this seminar, attendees will gain valuable insights into our travelogue collection through presentations by guest speakers. The focus will be on the significance of travelogues produced by Western explorers and their accounts of Qatar. Yousef Al-Ansari, Foreign Print-Information Services Librarian at our Heritage Library, will give a brief presentation on the collection and introduce the speakers.

Speakers: 

Dr. Mehdi Jerad: is an Associate Professor at Qatar University in the College of Arts and Sciences, and Head of the Department of Humanities. Dr. Jerad holds advanced degrees in modern history, specializing in the social and diplomatic history of North Africa during the Ottoman era. 

Dr. Yousef Ibrahim Al-Abdullah is a Professor of History in the Humanities Department at the College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University. He has conducted extensive research on the modern and contemporary history of Qatar, including several projects funded by the Qatar National Research Fund. His publications include "The Modern and Contemporary History of Qatar: A Study in the Political, Economic, and Social Development of Qatar" and a book on Qatari-British relations from 1914 to 1945.

Dr. Sherine El-Menshawy is a Professor of History in the Humanities Department at Qatar University. She earned her PhD in Ancient History and Archaeology from the University of Liverpool in 2001. She has published numerous previously unpublished artifacts from the Greco-Roman Museum in Alexandria and the Arab Museum of Modern Art in Doha. Her research interests include ancient history, ancient civilizations, archaeology, heritage, and the study of individual and historical figures' personal histories, comparing them to historical accounts.

Date: 4 November 2024 

Time: 6:00 - 7:30 PM

Language: Arabic and English with interpretation. 

Target Audience: Researchers, historians, academics

Seats are limited, please click the button below to register.