author
Joseph Toussaint Reinaud
1795–1867
A pioneering French orientalist, he devoted his life to Arabic manuscripts, Islamic numismatics, and the history of contact between Europe and the Muslim world. His work helped bring medieval Arabic geography and travel writing to a wider nineteenth-century audience.
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About the author
Born in Lambesc in 1795, he moved to Paris in 1815 and studied under the influential scholar Silvestre de Sacy. Early in his career he spent time in Rome, where he investigated manuscripts and developed a strong interest in Muslim coins as well as Arabic sources.
He went on to work in the Royal Library's department of oriental manuscripts and later became a leading figure in French Arabic studies. He succeeded de Sacy as professor of Arabic at the École des langues orientales and was also associated with the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres.
Reinaud is remembered for scholarly works on Islamic geography, the Crusades, and the history of relations between the Islamic world and Europe. His editions, translations, and historical studies made difficult manuscript material far more accessible to readers and researchers of his time.