Following the composition of the Commentary, Maimonides wrote his most famous treatise called the Mishneh Torah, a comprehensive code of Jewish Law, as well as other important writings.  The Mishneh Torah is thought of throughout the Jewish world as one of the chief authoritative codifications of Jewish law and ethics. In this great work Maimonides broke from one thousand years of legal precedent to produce a systematic codification of Jewish law by subject. Although most of Maimonides’ treatises were written in Judeo-Arabic, Maimonides composed the Code in Hebrew to ensure its accessibility to Jews all over the world. 

Maimonides, Mishne Torah, 1300-1350, 'Mada', (Science), detail, NLI

Maimonides, Mishne Torah, 1300-1350, 'Mada' (Science), NLI

Maimonides, Mishneh Torah, 1300-1350, 'Ahavah' (Love), NLI

Maimonides, Mishneh Torah, 1300-1350, 'Ahava' (Love), detail, NLI

Written between 1300-1350 in Spain, this is the most splendid illuminated copy known. Although copied in Spain, most of the illustrations were done in Perugia, Italy around 1400, in the studio of Matteo di Ser Cambio.

Maimonides, Mishneh Torah, Spain, 1300-1350, NLI

Maimonides, Mishneh Torah, Spain, with illustration, 1300-1350, NLI

The Guide of the Perplexed, an important philosophical treatise, composed between 1185-1191, is set as a letter to a young disciple. The Guide sought to resolve apparent contradictions between rationalist philosophy, on the one hand, and Jewish tradition found in Scripture and the Talmud, on the other hand.  Unlike the Mishneh Torah, which was written for broad use, the Guide, written in Judeo-Arabic, was written for a more limited audience of rationalist, yet traditional Jews. A few of Maimonides’ theological positions led to public controversies with Rabbinic leaders outside of Egypt towards the end of his life. 

Guide of the Preplexed, 14th century, Yemen, Judeo-Arabic, NLI