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Vasiliy BartoldRussian orientalist, Arabist, Islamic scholar, historian, philologist
Date of Birth: 15.11.1869
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Content:
- Vasily Vladimirovich Bartold: A Pioneering Orientalist
- Academic Career at St. Petersburg University
- Expeditions, Research, and Discoveries
- Academic Honors and Publications
- Post-Revolution Activities
- Work in Azerbaijan
- Library Research and Cataloguing
- Death and Legacy
- Family
Vasily Vladimirovich Bartold: A Pioneering Orientalist
Early Life and EducationVasily Vladimirovich Bartold was born in 1869 in St. Petersburg, Russia, into a family of German heritage. He attended the 8th St. Petersburg Gymnasium, where he excelled in his studies. In 1887, he enrolled in the Faculty of Oriental Languages at St. Petersburg University, graduating with honors in 1891.
Academic Career at St. Petersburg University
After graduating, Bartold became a lecturer at his alma mater. He specialized in Islamic history, Arabic literature, and philology. In 1899, he published a Russian translation of Stanley Lane-Poole's "Muslim Dynasties" with his own corrections and additions. In 1900, he defended his doctoral dissertation on "Turkestan during the Mongol Invasions," becoming a Doctor of Oriental History.
Expeditions, Research, and Discoveries
Throughout his career, Bartold conducted numerous expeditions to the East, visiting countries such as Samarkand and Central Asia. In 1912, his groundbreaking work "The Caliph and the Sultan" refuted the long-held belief that the Abbasid Caliphate had transferred its authority to the Ottoman Sultan Selim I.
Academic Honors and Publications
Bartold was elected a Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences in 1910 and a full Academician in 1913. He was an active member of the Russian Committee for the Study of Central and Eastern Asia. As a prolific scholar, he published extensively in various academic journals, including the "Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Efron" and the first edition of the "Encyclopedia of Islam."
Post-Revolution Activities
After the October Revolution, Bartold became a senior member of the College of Orientalists at the Asiatic Museum. He played a crucial role in developing written scripts for previously unwritten languages within the Soviet republics.
Work in Azerbaijan
In the 1920s, Bartold traveled to Baku, Azerbaijan, where he helped establish the Oriental Faculty at Azerbaijan University. He delivered lectures on the history of Azerbaijan and published articles on the significance of the Caspian region in Muslim history.
Library Research and Cataloguing
Bartold's travels extended beyond Azerbaijan. He visited libraries in England, Germany, France, Turkey, and the Soviet Union. His expertise in library management and archival work led him to write articles on preserving and cataloging manuscripts.
Death and Legacy
Vasily Vladimirovich Bartold died on August 19, 1930, in Leningrad. He is remembered as a pioneering orientalist whose groundbreaking research and extensive publications revolutionized the study of Islamic history and philology. His legacy continues to inspire scholars and students alike.
Family
Bartold was married to Maria Alexeevna Zhukovskaya, the sister of fellow orientalist Valentin Zhukovsky.
