In pursuit of the past: Artuqid patronage of the ancient sciences

This thesis is the first study to investigate the patronage activities of the Artuqid dynasty in the field of ancient sciences. The Artuqid dynasty ruled the Jazira region between the twelfth and fifteenth centuries, with three branches active in Mardin, Hisn Kayfa, Amid, and Kharput. In addition to the lives of the scientists patronized by the Artuqid dynasty, this research analyzes the networks established by scientists with the elite, and the scientific manuscripts dedicated to the Artuqid rulers and other family members. The intellectual activities and educational backgrounds of the Artuqids, as well as their establishment of private and public libraries are investigated in detail to better understand the Artuqid stance on ancient sciences. The Artuqid courts were highly developed places where cultural and scientific pursuits were sponsored. Support for scientists, their research, and learning activities in the field of ancient sciences were consciously driven by the individual actions of Artuqid rulers and dynasty members. By bringing together diverse materials ranging from epigraphy to photography, poetry to chronicles, and coinage to architecture, this thesis offers a different interpretation and thereby sheds a new light on the Artuqids, whose history is sometimes portrayed with biases in scholarly and primary sources. Keywords: Artuqid, al-Jazira, medieval, ancient sciences, philosophy, medicine, astronomy, astrology, alchemy, occult sciences, arithmetic, engineering, automata, manuscripts, coinage, architecture, bridge, hospital, fortification.