Middle Eastern Texts Initiative

The Middle Eastern Texts Initiative (METI) was established in 1992. In 2001 it became part of the Institute for the Study and Preservation of Ancient Religious Texts (ISPART), and in 2006 became a part of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship when ISPART changed names. METI transferred editorial and production oversight to Brill in 2017. Directors have included Daniel C. Peterson (1992-2010) and D. Morgan Davis (2010-2017).

Variant names

METI

Description

Established: 1992

Location: Provo, Utah (1992- )

Functions

The Middle Eastern Texts Initiative (METI) is an effort to renew and enlarge cultural memory. Its primary project is the edition, translation, and publication of texts from the period during which Islam was the dominant political and intellectual influence in the Middle Eastern and Mediterranean worlds. It collaborates with scholars at academic institutions around the world to bring back into circulation writings that are properly the intellectual heritage of all people. In carrying out this work of restoration, METI celebrates the interrelated achievements of Medieval Jewish, Christian, and Muslim thinkers and seekers after wisdom. Arabic was the principle language of scholarship of this period, but works were also produced in Hebrew, Syriac, Arminian, and others. METI presents each text in its original language and script, carefully edited together with an expert English translation running parallel to the text. Scholarly annotations, indexes, glossaries, and bibliographies provide further aids to the reader. All METI titles are published by Brigham Young University Press and distributed worldwide by the University of Chicago Press.

Assets and Administrative Structure

The Middle Eastern Texts Initiative functions under a director who reports to the executive director of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship.

Associated Units

Superior unit: Brigham Young University (1992-2000)

Superior unit: Institute for the Study and Preservation of Ancient Religious Texts (2001-2006)

Superior unit: Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship (2006-)

Associated unit: Laura F. Willes Center for Book of Mormon Studies (2007-)

Associated unit: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies (2001-2010)

Associated unit: Institute for the Study and Preservation of Ancient Religious Texts. Research Technology Group (2001-2006)

Associated unit: Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship. Research Technology Group (2006-)

Sources

Brigham Young University, Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship, via WWW, April 9, 2010 (Daniel C. Peterson is the Editor-in-Chief of the Middle Eastern Texts Initiative; METI became a part of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship in 2006; The Middle Eastern Texts Initiative's purpose is to facilitate access to the wealth of the intellectual and spiritual tradition found in Classical Arabic, Persian, Syriac, and other languages of the Islamic cultural region and the subcommunities that entered into its formation. In most cases, METI publishes dual-language volumes, with the original text on one page and a fluent and trustworthy translation on the facing page. In every case, the manuscripts are carefully reviewed by in-house editors and peer reviewed by internationally eminent scholars, and the published works are annotated and introduced by internationally respected specialists. The volumes are published by Brigham Young University Press and distributed worldwide by the University of Chicago Press) http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/

Brigham Young University, News Release, via WWW, April 12, 2010 (The Middle Eastern Texts Initiative was established in 1992) http://news.byu.edu/archive07-May-meti.aspx

Brigham Young University, News Release, via WWW, April 12, 2010 (METI became a part of the Institute for the Study and Preservation of Ancient Religious Texts (ISPART) in 2001) http://news.byu.edu/archive06-Mar-maxwell.aspx

Brigham Young University, Maxwell Institute, via WWW, August 5, 2019 (Middle Eastern Texts Initiative moving to Brill) https://mi.byu.edu/meti-brill-2018/

Blair Hodges e-mail, Jan. 8, 2014 (program operates under director)

Blair Hodges e-mail, Jan. 27, 2014 (Davis appointed director in 2010)

Maintenance Information

Record ID: EAC-2010-00055

Creator: CEP