Colophons of Armenian Manuscripts 1301-1480, A Source of Middle Eastern History, Edited by Avedis K. Sanjian (hardcover)

Authors of Armenian colophons did not limit themselves to brief statements about manuscripts; they included information on a variety of subjects and often provided eyewitness accounts of events and living conditions. Consequently, these colophons have emerged as valuable primary historical sources, not only for Armenia but for the entire Middle East. The selection of colophons translated and annotated in this volume by Avedis K. Sanjian, founding head of the Narekatsi Chair of Armenian Literature in UCLA, provides specific data on a wide range of subjects, including the economy, ruling dynasties, epidemics and natural calamities, and observations helpful in the study of Middle Eastern topography and demography.