London | London | Museums |

The SOAS collections are extensive, important and intriguing. They include a remarkable variety of material: manuscripts, rare books, wall-hangings, textiles, ceramics, metalwork, sculptures, maps, photographs, documents of historical interest, and important archaeological collections. The display contains pieces from various regions of East Asia, South East Asia, South Asia, Central Asia, the Middle East and Africa that illustrate their enormous cultural diversity.

Because of the unique status of SOAS as the one institution in Great Britain exclusively devoted to the study of Asia and Africa it has attracted over the years a number of significant donations. These have contributed many valuable items, including the splendid 16th-century Anvår-i Suhayl• manuscript (illustrated on the front), to a steadily expanding collection of art objects, rare books and manuscripts.

In addition to the major geographical areas, a section of the display is dedicated to European Views of Asia and Africa. This reflects the impressions of European scholars, missionaries and travellers, such as Richard Burton and David Livingstone.