The Centenary of the Republic and the Republic of Letters: Arabic Studies in Portugal 1910–2010

Abstract

The present essay deals with a specific phase in which Arabic language has been introduced as a new discipline in the university curriculum in Portugal. From 1914 until 1974 it was taught practically in only one university, after 1974 new universities were created and some of them have included this discipline in their curricula mainly as an optional subject or a free course model. We shall analyse the conditions in which its study has been carried out and the principal factors that contributed to the advancement of this discipline. This essay is based on the bibliography listed below that covers a significant part of the chronology considered and is complemented by recollection of information from scattered sources of differentiated reliability, pamphlets issued by universities and other institutions and in some cases on oral basis only. Therefore certain gaps or inaccuracy of dates may involuntarily occur.