What is it about?
Domingo Badía when travelling through Morocco and North Africa until reaching Constantinople) was supposedly a prince born in Damascus. In 1814, he wrote a book in French under his pseudonym in which he recounts his travels between 1803 and 1808. His scientific work (in the fields of sociology, art history, geography and archaeology...) undoubtedly constitutes the greatest contribution of his travels, but the political interests that led him to travel through all these territories remain hidden. He does not lie in his book, but he does not tell the whole truth: it is the work of both a spy and a scientist!
Featured Image
Photo by Mahmut Yıldız on Unsplash
Why is it important?
In this article, we attempt to recount his story and motivations, as well as his contributions.
Perspectives
This article aims to introduce a unique character who lived between two worlds.
Dr. Fernando Escribano Martín
Universidad Autonoma de Madrid
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: The Historical Background of European Colonialism in the Muslim World: the Journey of Ali Bey el Abbassi (1803–1808), February 2026, De Gruyter,
DOI: 10.1163/9789004755253_003.
You can read the full text:
Contributors
The following have contributed to this page
