ARABIC PAPYROLOGY AND EARLY ISLAMIC EGYPT

The article provides a review of the development of Arabic papyrology as an academic discipline and its interacting with other sub-disciplines of papyrology. There is a. wealth of material that thematically overlaps with other language groups, especially when it comes to the early Islamic period proper but also other periods of Egyptian (and Near Eastern) history. The formation of the International Society for Arabic Papyrology as well as the development of specific electronic ressource tools and the training of students during the past 15 years have put Arabic papyrology on a new basis and made capable for an effective influx into the papyrological mainstream. The article undertakes advocacy efforts for research on, and especially the edition of new texts from, papyrological 'core areas' in terms of place (Egypt) and time (pre-12th CE) to assure a maximum potential for participation within the papyrological discourse.