Alison Vacca
@medievalqabq.bsky.social
editor of @alusuralwusta.bsky.social
historian of Umayyad & early Abbasid rule in Armenia & Caucasian Albania
currently working on marriage and matriliny in the Khazar Khaganate
associate prof at Columbia University
historian of Umayyad & early Abbasid rule in Armenia & Caucasian Albania
currently working on marriage and matriliny in the Khazar Khaganate
associate prof at Columbia University
Reposted by Alison Vacca
The business meeting marks the official launch of the @alusuralwusta.bsky.social: journals.library.columbia.edu/index.php/al....
A huge thanks to @zaydeantrim.bsky.social, @medievalqabq.bsky.social and the editorial board for all of their hard work in bringing this to fruition.
A huge thanks to @zaydeantrim.bsky.social, @medievalqabq.bsky.social and the editorial board for all of their hard work in bringing this to fruition.
Al-ʿUsur al-Wusta
Middle East Medievalists (MEM) is an international professional non-profit association of scholars interested in the study of the Islamic lands of the Middle East during the medieval period (defined r...
journals.library.columbia.edu
November 14, 2025 at 5:26 PM
The business meeting marks the official launch of the @alusuralwusta.bsky.social: journals.library.columbia.edu/index.php/al....
A huge thanks to @zaydeantrim.bsky.social, @medievalqabq.bsky.social and the editorial board for all of their hard work in bringing this to fruition.
A huge thanks to @zaydeantrim.bsky.social, @medievalqabq.bsky.social and the editorial board for all of their hard work in bringing this to fruition.
Caucasus Heritage Watch has started crowdfunding. Anyone unfamiliar with their work should devote some time to their website.
Satellite monitoring is currently the only way to track the condition of hundreds of Armenian cultural heritage sites in Azerbaijan. Monitoring supports accountability.
Satellite monitoring is currently the only way to track the condition of hundreds of Armenian cultural heritage sites in Azerbaijan. Monitoring supports accountability.
Caucasus Heritage Watch
Help Cornell University raise $10,000 for the project: Caucasus Heritage Watch. Your gift will make a difference!
crowdfunding.cornell.edu
November 3, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Caucasus Heritage Watch has started crowdfunding. Anyone unfamiliar with their work should devote some time to their website.
Satellite monitoring is currently the only way to track the condition of hundreds of Armenian cultural heritage sites in Azerbaijan. Monitoring supports accountability.
Satellite monitoring is currently the only way to track the condition of hundreds of Armenian cultural heritage sites in Azerbaijan. Monitoring supports accountability.
Reposted by Alison Vacca
New article alert!
Join us in exploring a phrase from Ibn Saʿīd al-Maghribī’s 13th-c. geography. He refers to the Damādim of northeast Africa as “Tatars of the Sūdān.” Hannah Barker interrogates the racializing discourses at play in such comparative claims.
[image: British Library Or 1524]
Join us in exploring a phrase from Ibn Saʿīd al-Maghribī’s 13th-c. geography. He refers to the Damādim of northeast Africa as “Tatars of the Sūdān.” Hannah Barker interrogates the racializing discourses at play in such comparative claims.
[image: British Library Or 1524]
September 27, 2025 at 1:30 PM
New article alert!
Join us in exploring a phrase from Ibn Saʿīd al-Maghribī’s 13th-c. geography. He refers to the Damādim of northeast Africa as “Tatars of the Sūdān.” Hannah Barker interrogates the racializing discourses at play in such comparative claims.
[image: British Library Or 1524]
Join us in exploring a phrase from Ibn Saʿīd al-Maghribī’s 13th-c. geography. He refers to the Damādim of northeast Africa as “Tatars of the Sūdān.” Hannah Barker interrogates the racializing discourses at play in such comparative claims.
[image: British Library Or 1524]
Reposted by Alison Vacca
Enjoying an evening in Khorazm
August 17, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Enjoying an evening in Khorazm
Reposted by Alison Vacca
This morning, members of the Knight Institute’s leadership team published a critical analysis of Columbia University’s settlement agreement with the Trump administration. Read the full analysis here: knightcolumbia.org/blog/what-th...
What the Columbia Settlement Really Means
knightcolumbia.org
August 4, 2025 at 2:45 PM
This morning, members of the Knight Institute’s leadership team published a critical analysis of Columbia University’s settlement agreement with the Trump administration. Read the full analysis here: knightcolumbia.org/blog/what-th...
“Who Remembers the Armenians?”
I remember them
and I ride the nightmare bus with them
each night
and my coffee, this morning I’m drinking it with them
You, murderer
Who remembers you?
— Najwan Darwish, Nothing More to Lose (2014)
I remember them
and I ride the nightmare bus with them
each night
and my coffee, this morning I’m drinking it with them
You, murderer
Who remembers you?
— Najwan Darwish, Nothing More to Lose (2014)
Gazafication and Genocide by Attrition in Artsakh/Nagorno Karabakh and the Occupied Palestinian Territories
Published in Journal of Genocide Research (Ahead of Print, 2024)
www.tandfonline.com
August 4, 2025 at 11:45 PM
“Who Remembers the Armenians?”
I remember them
and I ride the nightmare bus with them
each night
and my coffee, this morning I’m drinking it with them
You, murderer
Who remembers you?
— Najwan Darwish, Nothing More to Lose (2014)
I remember them
and I ride the nightmare bus with them
each night
and my coffee, this morning I’m drinking it with them
You, murderer
Who remembers you?
— Najwan Darwish, Nothing More to Lose (2014)
Reposted by Alison Vacca
The Ben Gurion University Middle Eastern Studies department statement - now in English and in Arabic.
Israel's policies in Gaza and the nature of the warfare there have exceeded all human and legal standards.
تتجاوز سياسة إسرائيل في غزة ونوع الحرب هناك كل معيار إنساني، قانوني وأخلافي
Israel's policies in Gaza and the nature of the warfare there have exceeded all human and legal standards.
تتجاوز سياسة إسرائيل في غزة ونوع الحرب هناك كل معيار إنساني، قانوني وأخلافي
July 31, 2025 at 11:22 PM
The Ben Gurion University Middle Eastern Studies department statement - now in English and in Arabic.
Israel's policies in Gaza and the nature of the warfare there have exceeded all human and legal standards.
تتجاوز سياسة إسرائيل في غزة ونوع الحرب هناك كل معيار إنساني، قانوني وأخلافي
Israel's policies in Gaza and the nature of the warfare there have exceeded all human and legal standards.
تتجاوز سياسة إسرائيل في غزة ونوع الحرب هناك كل معيار إنساني، قانوني وأخلافي
Reposted by Alison Vacca
This is the Washington Post (yes, that one): names in Arabic and English, and ages, of all 18,500 children killed in Gaza, plus portraits and stories where available: www.washingtonpost.com/world/intera...
60,000 Gazans have been killed. 18,500 were children. These are their names.
Palestinian children have been killed at a rate of more than one per hour since the war began.
www.washingtonpost.com
July 30, 2025 at 9:43 AM
This is the Washington Post (yes, that one): names in Arabic and English, and ages, of all 18,500 children killed in Gaza, plus portraits and stories where available: www.washingtonpost.com/world/intera...
I interrupt your daily existential panic to suggest reading this book on a literary history of Anatolia, blending Armenian, Persian, Turkish, Greek.
This poem switches btw Turkish & Armenian. The girl's last line is in Armenian: "Let us love one another, it will be sweet"
This poem switches btw Turkish & Armenian. The girl's last line is in Armenian: "Let us love one another, it will be sweet"
July 28, 2025 at 6:05 PM
I interrupt your daily existential panic to suggest reading this book on a literary history of Anatolia, blending Armenian, Persian, Turkish, Greek.
This poem switches btw Turkish & Armenian. The girl's last line is in Armenian: "Let us love one another, it will be sweet"
This poem switches btw Turkish & Armenian. The girl's last line is in Armenian: "Let us love one another, it will be sweet"
Reposted by Alison Vacca
Thank you to Rise Up, Columbia for the astute analysis as usual and the footnote shoutout to CUIMC Stands Up!
We’re a group of medical campus faculty & staff firmly against the exchange of our values for grant funds, even as our jobs & careers are at risk.
🔗 open.substack.com/pub/riseupco...
We’re a group of medical campus faculty & staff firmly against the exchange of our values for grant funds, even as our jobs & careers are at risk.
🔗 open.substack.com/pub/riseupco...
July 24, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Thank you to Rise Up, Columbia for the astute analysis as usual and the footnote shoutout to CUIMC Stands Up!
We’re a group of medical campus faculty & staff firmly against the exchange of our values for grant funds, even as our jobs & careers are at risk.
🔗 open.substack.com/pub/riseupco...
We’re a group of medical campus faculty & staff firmly against the exchange of our values for grant funds, even as our jobs & careers are at risk.
🔗 open.substack.com/pub/riseupco...
Reposted by Alison Vacca
Columbia University’s agreement with the Trump administration is a disaster for academic freedom, freedom of speech, & the independence of American higher education. Never in the history of our nation has an educational institution so thoroughly bent to the will of an autocrat.
1/
1/
July 24, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Columbia University’s agreement with the Trump administration is a disaster for academic freedom, freedom of speech, & the independence of American higher education. Never in the history of our nation has an educational institution so thoroughly bent to the will of an autocrat.
1/
1/
Reposted by Alison Vacca
Barnard and Columbia: Profiles in Cowardice.
Teaching students that the proper moral response to genocide is to shut the fuck up.
gothamist.com/news/columbi...
Teaching students that the proper moral response to genocide is to shut the fuck up.
gothamist.com/news/columbi...
Columbia disciplines 70 students for protest as school pleads with Trump for funding
The disciplinary actions come as the university tries to access about $1 billion in frozen grants, officials said.
gothamist.com
July 22, 2025 at 9:40 PM
Barnard and Columbia: Profiles in Cowardice.
Teaching students that the proper moral response to genocide is to shut the fuck up.
gothamist.com/news/columbi...
Teaching students that the proper moral response to genocide is to shut the fuck up.
gothamist.com/news/columbi...
Reposted by Alison Vacca
Good news if you like history, manuscripts, or nice books! 'The Illustrated Cairo Genizah' is now available at *greatly* reduced shipping costs via @theul.bsky.social (UK) and Amazon (worldwide) from this link: linktr.ee/nposegay. There's also a free sample file there with the entire first chapter.
July 22, 2025 at 11:22 AM
Good news if you like history, manuscripts, or nice books! 'The Illustrated Cairo Genizah' is now available at *greatly* reduced shipping costs via @theul.bsky.social (UK) and Amazon (worldwide) from this link: linktr.ee/nposegay. There's also a free sample file there with the entire first chapter.
yes, but specimens only found in Russia (near Smolensk), Estonia, Finland, &Sweden. none in the former Khaganate. its association with Khazars is based only on the name Moses-- doesn't name ard al-Khazar mint.
Idc abt truth of conversion. just pointing out that every Khazar source has a "yes, but"
Idc abt truth of conversion. just pointing out that every Khazar source has a "yes, but"
For #FindsFriday the unique and remarkable Khazar coin inscribed "Moses is God's messenger", from the huge Spillings hoard found on Gotland in 1999. The coin (dated c. 837) is the only physical proof that Khazars converted to Judaism. From the Gotlands Museum book "The Spillings Hoard"
July 20, 2025 at 3:15 PM
yes, but specimens only found in Russia (near Smolensk), Estonia, Finland, &Sweden. none in the former Khaganate. its association with Khazars is based only on the name Moses-- doesn't name ard al-Khazar mint.
Idc abt truth of conversion. just pointing out that every Khazar source has a "yes, but"
Idc abt truth of conversion. just pointing out that every Khazar source has a "yes, but"
just learned that Matisse spoke about how he drew inspiration from Byzantine coins, including this one from Tzimiskes's reign
July 20, 2025 at 12:23 AM
just learned that Matisse spoke about how he drew inspiration from Byzantine coins, including this one from Tzimiskes's reign
Reposted by Alison Vacca
New article alert!
How can we rethink word stress in Classical Arabic? This article looks to an unexpected source: the traditional recitation of metra in Persian metrics. This evidence clarifies controversial patterning in Classical Arabic, with implications for Proto-Arabic word stress, as well
How can we rethink word stress in Classical Arabic? This article looks to an unexpected source: the traditional recitation of metra in Persian metrics. This evidence clarifies controversial patterning in Classical Arabic, with implications for Proto-Arabic word stress, as well
July 10, 2025 at 7:23 PM
New article alert!
How can we rethink word stress in Classical Arabic? This article looks to an unexpected source: the traditional recitation of metra in Persian metrics. This evidence clarifies controversial patterning in Classical Arabic, with implications for Proto-Arabic word stress, as well
How can we rethink word stress in Classical Arabic? This article looks to an unexpected source: the traditional recitation of metra in Persian metrics. This evidence clarifies controversial patterning in Classical Arabic, with implications for Proto-Arabic word stress, as well
Reposted by Alison Vacca
The Editors of @alusuralwusta.bsky.social endorse @mesa1966.bsky.social's March 13 Statement on the repression of academic freedom and March 28 Joint Statement regarding Columbia.
Letters from The Board
mesana.org
April 8, 2025 at 9:46 PM
The Editors of @alusuralwusta.bsky.social endorse @mesa1966.bsky.social's March 13 Statement on the repression of academic freedom and March 28 Joint Statement regarding Columbia.
Reposted by Alison Vacca
🚨BREAKING | Columbia University Sued Over Student Record Disclosure*
Mahmoud Khalil, detained pro-Palestinian Columbia graduate, & 7 other students have filed a federal lawsuit against Columbia University, Barnard College, & the U.S. House Committee on Education & Workforce.
Here’s what we know 🧵:
Mahmoud Khalil, detained pro-Palestinian Columbia graduate, & 7 other students have filed a federal lawsuit against Columbia University, Barnard College, & the U.S. House Committee on Education & Workforce.
Here’s what we know 🧵:
March 14, 2025 at 12:22 AM
🚨BREAKING | Columbia University Sued Over Student Record Disclosure*
Mahmoud Khalil, detained pro-Palestinian Columbia graduate, & 7 other students have filed a federal lawsuit against Columbia University, Barnard College, & the U.S. House Committee on Education & Workforce.
Here’s what we know 🧵:
Mahmoud Khalil, detained pro-Palestinian Columbia graduate, & 7 other students have filed a federal lawsuit against Columbia University, Barnard College, & the U.S. House Committee on Education & Workforce.
Here’s what we know 🧵:
Reposted by Alison Vacca
💻 Register now for an online seminar with Dr Viola Allegranzi, who will be speaking on 'Architectural Inscriptions from 10th- to 13th-Century Afghanistan as Recorded in Photographic Archives': bit.ly/RethinkHistory
🗓️ Thu 13 Mar, 12pm Toronto/4pm UK time.
#Afghanistan #medievalsky #skystorian
🗓️ Thu 13 Mar, 12pm Toronto/4pm UK time.
#Afghanistan #medievalsky #skystorian
March 5, 2025 at 4:32 PM
💻 Register now for an online seminar with Dr Viola Allegranzi, who will be speaking on 'Architectural Inscriptions from 10th- to 13th-Century Afghanistan as Recorded in Photographic Archives': bit.ly/RethinkHistory
🗓️ Thu 13 Mar, 12pm Toronto/4pm UK time.
#Afghanistan #medievalsky #skystorian
🗓️ Thu 13 Mar, 12pm Toronto/4pm UK time.
#Afghanistan #medievalsky #skystorian
next on my pile of interesting books to read! if you're in NYC, please come to hear the authors present their newly-published book on 24 March!
March 4, 2025 at 11:12 PM
next on my pile of interesting books to read! if you're in NYC, please come to hear the authors present their newly-published book on 24 March!
Reposted by Alison Vacca
AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
February 5, 2025 at 1:20 AM
AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Reposted by Alison Vacca
The only person I want to see us all get behind for President in 2028 is AOC. The rest of the Dems are mostly feckless, spineless and useless
January 31, 2025 at 12:07 AM
The only person I want to see us all get behind for President in 2028 is AOC. The rest of the Dems are mostly feckless, spineless and useless
Reposted by Alison Vacca
So this is really cool: a stamp impression from the library of the Ilkhanid vizier Rashid al-Din (d. 1318). It reads “pious endowment [waqf] of the Rashidiyya library,” & it may have been inspired by Chinese prints/stamps. Stamped waqf notices are totally unheard of for this time!
January 26, 2025 at 10:44 PM
So this is really cool: a stamp impression from the library of the Ilkhanid vizier Rashid al-Din (d. 1318). It reads “pious endowment [waqf] of the Rashidiyya library,” & it may have been inspired by Chinese prints/stamps. Stamped waqf notices are totally unheard of for this time!