What do an old farmer's wife and her camel cow have to do with just rule? And how can old stories be used to advise powerful rulers? Immerse yourself in the world of the Islamic rulers of the Middle Ages and learn how their advisors instructed them with advice texts without incurring their wrath.
The advice texts for the Islamic rulers of the Middle Ages are filled with stories and phrases in which the advisors could package their advice. Stories about the Persian kings, who had lived many years before the Islamic rulers, were particularly popular. They were known for their wisdom and sense of justice and served as examples of good governance. Women rarely played a role in texts advising rulers. As everywhere in the Middle Ages, they were considered dangerous because they could confuse powerful men with their charms. For this reason, many advice texts warned kings not to get involved with women. This makes the stories in which women take on other roles all the more exciting. One example of this is the widespread story about the encounter between the Persian king Khusruw Parwiz and the old peasant woman.
Based on this story, you will learn what role the gender of the old peasant woman plays in this tale. The story is accompanied by examples of the colorful paintings used to illustrate medieval Islamic texts.
