J. J. Saunders
Encyclopedia
John Joseph Saunders was a British historian whose work focused on medieval Islam
ic and Asian history.
Born in Alphington, Devon
, he was educated at Exeter University. He was a lecturer at the University of Canterbury
in New Zealand
. Geoffrey Rice wrote of him:
His main works (sometimes signed J. J. Saunders) include:
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
ic and Asian history.
Born in Alphington, Devon
Alphington, Devon
Alphington is a suburb of the City of Exeter in southwest England. The ward of Alphington has a population of 8250 according to the 2001 census, making it the third largest in Exeter, with the village itself accounting for about a quarter of this figure...
, he was educated at Exeter University. He was a lecturer at the University of Canterbury
University of Canterbury
The University of Canterbury , New Zealand's second-oldest university, operates its main campus in the suburb of Ilam in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand...
in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. Geoffrey Rice wrote of him:
John Saunders was an only child, and books were his best companions from an early age. He also displayed artistic ability with pen and ink drawing, having something of a gift for cartoons and caricature. At school at Mount Radford in Exeter he showed particular aptitude for languages, literature and history. One of the masters who noticed his potential, Theodore Vine, became a lifelong friend. John Saunders was too shy to make friends easily, but all his life he was a faithful correspondent, sustaining his friendships over long distances and periods of time. ... John Saunders died on 25 November 1972, shortly after his return to New Zealand. Saunders's reputation as an outstanding university teacher is well attested from many sources, and generations of Canterbury graduates remember him with affection and admiration.
His main works (sometimes signed J. J. Saunders) include:
- A History of Medieval Islam (1961)
- Aspects of the Crusades (1962)
- The Muslim World on the Eve of Europe's Expansion (1966)
- The History of the Mongol Conquests (1971)
- Muslims and Mongols: Essays on Medieval Asia (1977)