Mediaeval History with Persian

Medieval history with Persian is an unusual and historically rich combination that connects the study of the medieval world in Europe and the Middle East with one of the great classical languages and literary traditions of that same world. Medieval history addresses the complex and varied civilisations of the period from roughly the fifth to the fifteenth century, including the Byzantine Empire, the caliphates of the Islamic world, the feudal societies of Western Europe and the Mongol conquests that reshaped Eurasia. Persian is the literary and administrative language of many of those civilisations, with an extraordinary poetic tradition and a central role in the cultural and intellectual history of the medieval Middle East and Central Asia.

At the University of St Andrews, this four-year MA programme develops your ability to engage with sophisticated modes of thought and expression across medieval Europe and the Middle East, grappling with complex historical issues and gaining a clear understanding of the historical background that underlies the present day. Alongside this, you will develop your Persian language skills, giving you direct access to the primary sources and literary traditions of the Persian-speaking world. A year abroad is part of the programme, giving you the opportunity to study at an international partner institution and extend your engagement with medieval history and Persian beyond the St Andrews context.

Graduates in medieval history with Persian pursue careers in academia, archiving, museum work, cultural heritage, the diplomatic service, area studies research, international organisations working in the Middle East and Central Asia, journalism and broadcasting focused on these regions, and education. The combination of historical rigour and Persian language competence is particularly distinctive and valuable for research and professional roles that engage with the historical and contemporary dimensions of the Iranian and Central Asian worlds. Postgraduate study in medieval history, Persian studies, Middle Eastern studies or Islamic history is a natural next step.