The Great Mosque of a-Qayrawan in Tunisia was a complex consisting of a hospital and mosque. Courtesy of 1001 inventions

In London, Thomas Coram founded a “Hospital for the Maintenance and Education of Exposed and Deserted Children" in 1739. It was the first orphanage, and it stayed open until 1953. Today the building houses the Foundling Museum which tells the story of the founders and the children who were lucky enough to be taken in.

		Courtesy of 1001 inventions Fountains were a display of ultimate wealth at a time when water was scarce.

Professor Hawting came to the museum to talk about the situation of orphans and foundlings in the Islamic world from 900CE - 1800. Although there's limited specific information about the provision for abandoned children, we have a lot of information about how charity was organised in the pre-modern period, and through this can still catch a glimpse of the legal position and prospects of children with no parents.

		Courtesy of 1001 inventions. The lion fountain at Alhambra, Spain.

Professor Hawting also looks at other charitable works in the period - which included the building of some of the first hospitals, and the provision of public drinking fountains.

You can download the whole talk below.