Reading East: Irish Sources and Resources

The heart of the website is a catalogue of early modern printed texts that attest to contact between Europe and the East, and that are held in Dublin research libraries. In the catalogue you will find a selection of books about the East, covering a variety of genres, with a detailed description of each text that includes a bibliographical report, copy-specific information, images, and links to relevant online resources.

The website also hosts descriptions of the libraries involved in the project with direct links to their websites, essays about some of the texts present in the catalogue, and a bibliography of relevant resources.

We hope that this site will be a useful resource for scholars, an interesting browsing experience for non-academics, and that it will inspire more visitors to explore Dublin’s many, diverse and extraordinarily rich research libraries. We hope to expand the project in the near future, to include more texts and more libraries, both in Dublin and beyond. Until then, happy browsing.

Reading East was developed under the Government of Ireland Research & Senior Research Fellowship Project in the Humanities and Social Sciences, funded by the Irish Research Council.

Reading East logo courtesy of the Trustees of the Edward Worth Library
Banner image courtesy of the Royal Irish Academy Library

A discourse of a discoverie for a new passage to Cataia[Beroald, Matthieu] A new and large discourse of the travels of Sir Antony Sherley Knight, by sea, and over land, to the Persian Empire[Comnena, Anna; Hoeschel, David] A secretis Epistola de admirabili & novissima Hispanorum in Orientem navigatione[Lasicki, Jan] A short view of the Persian monarchieAcquaviva, Claudio A true and almost incredible reportAdrichem, Christiaan van A true and large discourse of the voyage of the whole fleete of ships set forth the 20 of Aprill 1601 by the Gouernours and assistants of the East Indian marchants in London, to the East IndiesAitzing, Michael von A true chronologie of the times of the Persian monarchieAlbonesi, Teseo Ambrogio Acta Mechmeti Saracenorum principisAlfraganus Alphabetum ArabicumAlfraganus; Christmann, Jakob Alphabetum ArabicumAlhazen An addition to the sea journal or navigation of the Hollanders unto IauaAnghiera, Pietro Martire d’ An ItineraryArcolano, Giovanni Annales sultanorum Othmanidarum a Turcis sua lingua scriptiArrivabene, Ludovico Aromatum et simplicium aliquot medicamentorum apud indos nascentium historiaÐurđević, Bartol Avicennae Arabum medicorum principisAvicenna Avvisi della Cina et GiaponeAvicenna Chronicon HierosolymitanumBar Hebraeus Chronicorum TurcicorumBarros, João de Chronologica et astronomica elementaBaumgarten, Martin von Commentarii rerum gestarum in India citra Gangem a Lusitanis anno 1538Belon, Pierre Compendium de animaBesold, Christoph Compendium, id omne quod ad astronomica rudimenta spectat complectensBibliander, Theodor Consideratio legis et sectae SaracenorumBizzarri, Pietro Copia di due lettere annue scritte dal Giapone del 1589 et 1590Bizzarri, Pietro Croniche degli ordini instituiti dal p. S. Francesco. Parte quarta. Tomo primoBoissard, Jean-Jacques De balneisBongars, Jacques De dis Syris syntagmataBonnefoy, Ennemond De elementis et orbibus coelestibusBrant, Sebastian De febribusBrerewood, Edward De febribusBrisson, Barnabé De itinere suo Constantinopolitano, epistolaBruton, William De orbis situ libri tresBry, Johann Theodor de De origine et conversatione bonorum regum et de laude civitatis HierosolymaeBry, Johann Theodor de; Bry Johann Israel de De origine imperii TurcorumBurcardus, Burcardus De originibus seu de Hebraicae linguae et gentis antiquitate, deque variarum linguarum affinitate, liberBusbecq, Ogier Ghislain de De rebus Hispanicis, Lusitanicis, Aragonicis, Indicis & AethiopicisCanini, Angelo De rebus Iaponicis, Indicis, et Peruanis epistolae recentioresCartwright, John De rebus Turcarum ad Franciscum Gallorum regem Christianiss. libri quinqueCayet, Pierre-Victor De regio Persarum principatu libri tresChristmann, Jakob De Russorum Moscovitarum et Tartarorum religione, sacrificiis, nuptiarum, funerium rituClenardus, Nicolaus De Situ OrbisCoelho, Gaspar De topographia Constantinopoles, et de illius antiquitatibus libri quatuorCootwijck, Johannes van De UrbibusCosta, Emanuel Delle missioni de' padri della Compagnia di Giesu nella Prouincia del Giappone, e particolarmente di quella di Tumkino. Libri cinqueCosta, Emanuel Delle Navigationi et ViaggiCosta, Emanuel Descriptio ac delineatio Geographica detectionis freti, sive, transitus ad Occasum, supra terras Americanas, in Chinam atque Iapone ducturiCoverte, Robert Descriptio Terrae Sanctae, et regionum finitimarumCurione, Celio Augustino Description du penible voyage faict entour de l'univers du globe terrestreDe Marini, Filippo Dictionarium ChaldaicumDiodorus Siculus Diod. Siculi bibliothecae historicae libri XV, de XLDousa, George Drey Japponische schreibenErpenius, Thomas Enquiries touching the diversity of languages and religions through the chiefe parts of the worldErpenius, Thomas; Jirjis ibn al-'Amid (called al-Makin) Epistola ad DiognetumErpenius, Thomas; Jirjis ibn al-'Amid (called al-Makin) Epistolae Iapanicae de multorum in variis insulis Gentilium ad Christi fidem conversioneErpenius, Thomas; Scaliger, Joseph Juste Epistolae Indicae de stupendis et praeclaris rebusFeyrabend, Sigmund Epistolae Indicae et Iapanicae de multarum gentium ad Christi fidem, per Societatem Iesu conversioneFróis, Luís Gesta Dei per FrancosFróis, Luís Glossarium Graeco-BarbarumFróis, Luís Grammatica ArabicaFróis, Luís Grammatica ArabicaFuerer, Christoph Haec in hoc libro continentur. Xenophontis Cyripedias libri VIIIGóis, Damião de Herodoti Halicarnassei historae lib. IX, & de vita Homeri libellusGeraldson, Cornelius Herodoti libri novem quibus Musarum indita sunt nominaGilbert, Humphrey Sir Herodoti libri novem quibus Musarum indita sunt nominaGilles, Pierre Histoire contenant une sommaire description des geneologies, alliances et gestes de tous les princes & grans seigneurs, dont la pluspart estoient Francois, qui ont jadis commandé és royaumes de Hierusalem, Cypre, ArmenieGonzáles de Mendoza, Juan Histoire de PortugalGonzález de Mendoza, Juan Historia compendiosa dynastiarumGonzález de Mendoza, Juan Historia Constantinopolitana, imperatorum Orientalium & Occidentalium, ab anno MLXXXGrynaeus, Simon Historia de las cosas mas notables, ritos y costumbres, del gran Reyno de la ChinaGrynaeus, Simon Historia della guerra fra Turchi e PersianiGuazzo, Marco Historia OrientalisGuerreiro, Fernão Historia SaracenicaHakluyt, Richard Historia SaracenicaHay, John Historia y anal relacionHerberstein, Sigmund Historiarum Indicarum libri IVHerberstein, Sigmund Historiarum Indicarum libri XVIHerodotus Historiarum lib. IX. Ejusdem narratio de vita Homeri. Ctesae quaedam de rebus Persarum et IndiarumHerodotus Historie di tutte le cose degne di memoriaHerodotus; Ctesias Hodoeporicon RutheniconHerodotus; Ctesias Hyero sive TyrannicusHottinger, Johann Heinrich Il Magno Vitei di Lodouico Arrivabene MantoanoHudson, Henry India OrientalisJustin, Saint Indicarum historiarumJustin, Saint Informatione del regno, et stato del gran re di MogorLe Comte, Louis Institutiones linguae Syriacae, Assyricae atque ThalmudicaeLe Comte, Louis Introductio in Chaldaicam linguam, Syriacam, atque Armenicam, & decem alias linguasLeunclavius, Johannes Iter ad Terram SanctamLinschoten, Jan Huyghen van Itinerarij Terre SancteLively, Edward Itinerarium Aegipti, Arabiae, Palaestinae, Syriae, alairumque regionum OrientaliumLodewijcksz, Willem Itinerarium Hierosolymitanum et SyriacumLongobardi, Nicolò; Pasio, Francesco; Gomez, Petro Iuris orientalis libri IIILonicer, Philipp Jus Regium HebraeorumLoqman L' Historia del gran regno della ChinaLoqman L'Asia del S. Giovanni di BarrosLoyson, Estienne ; de Búrca, Éamonn L'Histoire, ou Chronique du seigneur Geoffroy de Ville-HarduinLusignan, Etienne de La Cour Othomane, ou l'interprete de la PorteMünster, Sebastian La solenne entrata fatta dalli signori ambasciatori Persiani in RomaMāšā'allāh, Ibn-At̲arī Le Historie delle Indie OrientaliMacer, Jean Le second livre, Iournal ou comptoir, contenant le vray discours et narration historique, du voyage fait par les huit navires d'Amsterdam, au mois de Mars l'an 1598 sous la conduite de l'Admiral Iaques Cornille Nec, & du Vice-Admiral Wibrant de WarwicMaffei, Giovanni Pietro Legationis Turcicae epistolae quatuorMaffei, Giovanni Pietro Les navigations, peregrinations et voyages faicts en la TurquieMaffei, Giovanni Pietro Les navigations, peregrinations et voyages faicts en la TurquieMaffei, Giovanni Pietro Les observations de plusieurs singularitez et choses memorables, trouvees en Grece, Asie, Judée, Egypte, Arabie et autres pays estrangesMarne, Claude de Les voyages du seigneur de VillamontMeggen, Jodocus von Lettera annale delle cose del Giapone del M.D. LXXXIIMehmed II, Sultan of the Turks Lettere del Giapone, et della Cina de gl'anni M.D.LXXXIX & M.D.XCMela, Pomponius Lettere dell' India OrientaleMeurs, Johannes van Linguarum duodecim characteribus differentium alphabetumMinadoi, Giovanni Tommaso Literae annuae Iaponenses anni 1591 et 1592Minadoi, Giovanni Tommaso Locmani Sapientis Fabulae et selecta quaedam Arabum AdagiaMontecroce, Ricoldo da Locmani Sapientis Fabulae et selecta quaedam Arabum Adagia. Cum interpretatione LatinaMoryson, Fynes Machumetis Saracenorum principisMylius, Arnold Mohammedis imposturaeNapoli, Leonardo da; Barezzo Barezzi Cremonese Navigatio ac itinararium Iohannis Hugonis Linschotani in Orientalem sive Lusitanorum IndiamNeck, Jacob Cornelissoon van; Lodewijcksz, Willem New Historischer BerichtNicolay, Nicolas de Newes from AleppoNicolay, Nicolas de Newes from the East-Indies: or a voyage to BengallaNoort, Olivier van Nouveaux mémoires sur l'état present de la Chine. Tome premierOrta, Garcia de Nouveaux mémoires sur l'état present de la Chine. Tome secondOsório, Jerónimo Nova et succincta, vera tamen historia de amplissimo, potentissimoque, nostro quidem orbi hactenus incognito, sed perpaucis abhinc annis explorato regno ChinaPantoja, Diego de Novus orbis regionum ac insularum veteribus incognitarumParry, William Novus orbis regionum ac insularum veteribus incognitarumPeruschi, Giambattista Nuovi avvisi del Giapone con alcuni altri della China del LXXXIII, et LXXXIVPeruschi, Giovanni Battista Omnia quae exstant operaPhilo, Herennius of Byblus OperaPineyro, Luis Opera chi se delettasse de saper domandar ciascheduna cosa in turchescoPinto, Fernão Mendes Opticae thesaurusPostel, Guillaume Paradigmata de quatuor linguis orientalibus praecipuis, Arabica, Armena, Ayria, AethiopicaPostel, Guillaume PeregrinacamPostel, Guillaume Peregrinatio HierosolymitanaPurchas, Samuel Peregrinatio in Aegyptum, Arabiam, Palaestinam & SyriamPurchas, Samuel Peregrinationum, ac de rebus Machometicis epistolae elegantissimaeRamusio, Giovanni Battista Persicarum rerum historiaRamusio, Giovanni Battista Premier livre de l'histoire de la navigation aux Indes Orientales par les Hollandois et des choses a eux advenues, ensemble les conditions, les meurs et manieres de vivre des nations par eux abordéesRamusio, Giovanni Battista Primo volume delle navigationi et viaggiRamusio, Giovanni Battista Primo volume, & terza editione delle Navigationi et ViaggiReineccius Propugnaculum FideiRicher, Christophe Proverbiorum Arabicorum centuriae duaeRobson, Charles Purchas his PilgrimageSalignac, Barthélemy de Purchas his PilgrimesSaxonia, Ludolphus de Quae extant operaSchickard, Wilhelm Quae intus continentur. Syria, ad Ptolomaicy operis rationemSelden, John Raccolta di relationi de Regni del GiapponeStephanus Byzantinus Recentissima de amplissimo regno ChinaeStrabo Relacam annal das cousas que fizeram os padres de Companhia de Iesu, nas partes da India OrientalStrabo Relación de la entrada de algunos Padres de la Cõpañia de Iesús en la ChinaStrabo Relacion del sucesso que tuvo nuestra Santa Fe en los reynos del IaponSuarez de Figueroa, Christoval; Guerreiro, Fernão Rerum a sociatate Iesu in oriente gestarumSylburgij, Frid Rerum a Societate Iesu in Oriente gestarum volumenThévenot, Jean de Rerum a Societate Iesu in Oriente gestarum volumenTransylvanus, Maximilianus Rerum geographicarum libri septemUlfeldt, Jacob Rerum geographicarum libri XVIIVeer, Gerrit de Rerum Moscoviticarum auctores variiVigenère, Blaise de Rerum Moscoviticarum commentariiVillamont, Jacques Rerum Moscoviticarum commentariiVillehardouin, Geoffroi de Rerum Persicarum historiaWebbe, Edward Reyßbuch deß heyligen LandsWidmanstetter, Johann Albrecht Sanchoniatho's Phoenician HistoryXenophon Saracenica sive MoamethicaXenophon Sarracenicae historiae libri tresXenophon Secondo velume delle Navigationi et ViaggiXenophon Selectarum epistolarum ex India libri quattuorZiegler, Jakob Syriacae linguae prima elementaZiegler, Jakob Terra Promissionis topographice atque historice descripta Terrae Sanctae, quam Palaestinam nominant The Alcoran of Mahomet The history of the warres betwene the Turkes and the Persians The history of travayle in the West and East Indies, and other countreys lying eyther way The preachers travels The principal navigations, voiages, traffiques and discoueries of the English nation The rare and most wonderfull things vvhich Edw. Webbe an Englishman borne, hath seene and passed in his troublesome travailes The travels of Monsieur de Thevenot into the Levant The Turkes secretoire Traicté des chiffres ou secretes manieres d'escrire Urbis Hierosolimae Viaggi fatti da Vinetia, alla Tana, in Persia, in India, et in Costantinopoli Viaggi fatti da Vinetia, alla Tana, in Persia, in India, et in Costantinopoli Vitae et icones sultanorum Turcicorum, principum Persarum aliorumque illustrium heroum heroinamque ab Osmane usque ad Mahomenem II Vraye description de trois voyages de mer tres admirable, par les navires d'Hollande et Zelande au nord Zween kurtze bericht der erst vonn deß grosmaechtigen Koeniges Mogor person leben macht unnd zur Christlichen religion sonderer zuneig