Educating the King: The Art of Governance in Early Arab Literature

Authors

  • Syrine Snoussi Syrine Snoussi is Doctorante Allocataire Moniteur de Recherches àl’Université de Nice. She can be reached at: syrine.snoussi@orange.fr

Abstract

This paper questions the early Arab literary tradition of the education of kings by initially defining the notion of education in this type of literature. The conflict between power and education is then presented in terms of the opposition between the educator and the king. The architectural model that structures the conception of educating and ruling is then described, before presenting the royal virtues and functions that exemplify the ideal king. It ends with a note on the role of religion in this genre of giving advice to the royalty.

Downloads