ESP Biography

The Shahnameh is widely considered the greatest work of poetry in the Persian-speaking world. The words of the Shahnameh are on the tip of every Persian speaker's tongue to this day. With over 60,000 verses about the pre-Arab mythology and history of Persia, it is a source of cultural pride in Iran and parts of Afghanistan. It took Ferdowsi over 20 years to write this masterpiece. The story behind the writing of these tales is one full of political rebellion and defiance. In this class, we will explore the content, historical and geographical context and culture behind this masterpiece. Knowledge about the Shahnameh is a step towards understanding a culture that spans across national borders and how intimately the past and present are connected.

Islamic architecture has captured our minds and eyes for generations. One of the most stunning examples is the Taj Mahal. Islamic influence spanned from Spain to India which provides for a wide array of examples. This class will explore beyond the Taj Mahal and be a survey of a few of the lesser known, but stunning, examples of Islamic architecture and the historical and cultural influences inherent in each. Some study of recurring motifs across time and space will also be included.

The Shahnameh is widely considered the greatest work of poetry in the Persian-speaking world. The words of the Shahnameh are on the tip of every Persian speaker's tongue to this day. With over 60,000 verses about the pre-Arab mythology and history of Persia, it is a source of cultural pride in Iran and parts of Afghanistan. It took Ferdowsi over 20 years to write this masterpiece. The story behind the writing of these tales is one full of political rebellion and defiance. In this class, we will explore the content, historical and geographical context and culture behind this masterpiece. Knowledge about the Shahnameh is a step towards understanding a culture that spans across national borders and how intimately the past and present are connected.

The Shahnameh is widely considered the greatest work of poetry in the Persian-speaking world. The words of the Shahnameh are on the tip of every Persian speaker's tongue to this day. With over 60,000 verses about the pre-Arab mythology and history of Persia, it is a source of cultural pride in Iran and parts of Afghanistan. It took Ferdowsi over 20 years to write this masterpiece. The story behind the writing of these tales is one full of political rebellion and defiance. In this class, we will explore the content, historical and geographical context and culture behind this masterpiece. Knowledge about the Shahnameh is a step towards understanding a culture that spans across national borders and how intimately the past and present are connected.

Islamic architecture has captured our minds and eyes for generations. One of the most stunning examples is the Taj Mahal. Islamic influence spanned from Spain to India which provides for a wide array of examples. This class will explore beyond the Taj Mahal and be a survey of a few of the lesser known, but stunning, examples of Islamic architecture and the historical and cultural influences inherent in each. Some study of recurring motifs across time and space will also be included.