Chapter 5
Illustrations: When Asia Was the World
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5.19. Chess was played throughout the Asian world, by the famous, such as Ghenghis Khan, and the ordinary, such as Abraham bin Yiju, the pepper trader. Citation: The Vizier Buzurghmihr Showing the Game of Chess to King Khusraw Anushirwan, Page from a Manuscript of the Shahnama (Book of Kings) Turkey, 1525 – 1575. Los Angeles County Museum M.73.5.586 |
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5.20. In this letter, Abraham bin Yiju desperately inquired about the circumstances of his brothers and sisters who had been kidnapped from Tunisia to Christian Sicily. Against all odds, the letter did reach them and Abraham eventually rescued them all. Citation: Taylor-Schechter Collection, Cambridge University Library |