August 29, 2012
The Growth of a Squiggly Letter Language Collection: Armenian at the Library of Congress
Levon Avdoyan discusses the establishment and growth of the Library's Armenian language collections.

July 19, 2012
Reading Omar Khayyam's Ruba'iyyat with Their Historical Context
Mehdi Aminrazavi, professor of Philosophy and Religion at the University of Mary Washington discusses "Reading Omar Khayyam's Ruba'iyyat within Their Historical Context."

June 5, 2012
Jurji Zaidan: His Contributions to Modern Arab Thought & Literature (Morning Session)
Jurji Zaidan: His Contributions to Modern Arab Thought & Literature (Afternoon Session)
Scholars from the Arab world, Europe and North America presented papers and discussed the life and work of the noted Arab novelist, journalist and publisher. (Morning session.) Speakers included Jens Hanssen (University of Toronto) Marwa El Shakry (Columbia University), Anne-Laure Dupont, Roger Allen (University of Pennsylvania), Zainab Ben Lagha, William Granara (Harvard University), Michael Cooperson (University of California/Los Angeles), Thomas Philipp (Erlangen University, Germany), George Zaidan (founder of The Zaidan Foundation), and from the Library of Congress, Roberta Shaffer, Jeremy Adamson and Mary Jane Deeb.

May 16, 2012
The Persian Traditional Music Golha Project
This illustrated lecture revealed the background and importance of Golha radio programs which were broadcast in Iran from 1956 through 1978. Jane Lewisohn discussed the artistic, literary and social significance of preserving and promoting Persian literature and music in general.

May 15, 2012
The Last Pharaoh: A Dream for the World
Wagdi Zeid presented "The Last Pharaoh: A Dream for the World," his play about Akhnaton, the first monotheistic pharaoh in Egypt, and his efforts to unify the country and promote his belief of the one and only god.

May 10, 2012
Gift of Georgian Book
Nikoloz Rurua, Georgian Minister of Culture, presents Librarian of Congress James H. Billington with "Contemporary Georgian Fiction," translated and edited by Elizabeth Heighway and published by Dalkey Archive Press. Heighway and Dalkey Archive Press founder John O'Brien give insight and answer questions about the gift book.

April 19, 2012
Armenian Literary Identity
Kevork Bardakjian presented "Scribes, Compositors and the Mind in the Making: the Armenian Script and the Creation of an Armenian Literary Identity." Levon Avdoyan discussed "The Continuity and Change of an Armenian Identity in the Digital Age." Following the lectures, participants visited the new exhibition, "To Know Wisdom and Instruction: The Armenian Literary Tradition at the Library of Congress."

April 5, 2012
Persia in Crisis: Safavid Decline and the Fall of Isfashan
Rudi Matthee spoke about his new book "Persia in Crisis: Safavid Decline and the Fall of Isfahan

February 16, 2012
Islam Through Western Eyes
According to author Jonathan Lyons, the Western view of Islam has prevented the West from responding effectively to its most significant 21st-century challenges: the rise of Islamic power, the emergence of religious violence, and the growing tension between established social values and multicultural rights among Muslim immigrant populations. Lyons addresses the issues of Islam and modernity, Islam and violence, and Islam and women and proposes new ways of thinking about the Western relationship to the Islamic world.

November 28, 2011
Turkmenistan Folk Ensemble (Concert)
The African and Middle Eastern Division sponsored presented a concert featuring the Turkmenistan Folk Ensemble performing traditional Turkmenistan music.

November 28, 2011
Literary & Performing Arts of Turkmenistan (Symposium)
In observance of Turkmenistan Culture Day and the 20th anniversary of the nation's independence, the Library hosted a series of events celebrating Turkmenistan, including this symposium on its literary and performing arts.

September 6, 2011
The New Anbar Awakening, 2009-2011
Michael Albin discussed his deployment to Iraq.

June 22, 2011
Farzaneh Milani: Words Not Swords
Farzaneh Milani discusses her recently published book, "Words Not Swords: Iranian Women Writers and the Freedom of Movement."

March 29, 2011
Ameen Rihani: The Book of Khalid
The Library of Congress and the Ameen Rihani Institute presented a symposium on the 100th anniversary of the first Arab-American novel, Ameen Rihani's "The Book of Khalid."

March 9, 2011
Belly Dancers, Harems & Chadors
Author Maha Addasi discusses the importance of getting multicultural details right in children's books.

February 9, 2011
Abbas Milani & The Shah
Over the course of almost 40 years, Mohammad Reza Shah was a colossus in Iran, the one constant in a swirl of changing loyalties, political fortunes, and pressures both domestic and international; by the end of his reign, virtually no state decision could be taken, save by him. Abbas Milani discusses the ruler in his latest book, "The Shah".

January 19, 2011
Cuisine and Culture in the Arab World
Author Amy Riolo discusses cuisine and culture in the Arab world.

Near East Section Webcast Archives
2000 through 2010