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Medieval Christian Perceptions of Islam: A Book of Essays

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"Medieval Christian Perceptions of Islam" ed. by John V. Tolan, (1996), English, hardback, 414 pgs. Contains 15 essays by various writers. Rather than a mere reprint of something that had been written in 850 or 1125 or 1417 A.D., these essays are articles whereby a researcher has studied some old writing and analyzes its relevance for the modern reader. As the early `writings' c. the 800s are rather brief, and tend to be more polemical against Islam than analytical, it is very helpful that the essayists add their analysis of the early works. Admittedly, the early writings are not very `fun' or `exciting' reads (no fault of the essayists, however). So, expect some `dry' reading herein. Not really for the novice student inquiring about how Islam was practiced during the 800-1300s in Europe. Sort of a collection of snippets from letters written by some suffering Christian who is complaining about raids, enslavement or having to pay high taxes to some Muslim warlord - which enticed many to `convert'. One essayist noted: "Since at least the ninth century a series of twenty-two anathemas against Islamic beliefs had been incorporated into a `Formula of Abjuration', which was used as part of the required rituals of conversion (or reconversion) for Muslims wishing to join the Christian church" c. 1180 - and the essayist details their impact (p. 55). The essayists reported that Christians tended to see the broad advance of Islam because of some sin(s) that they had committed in offending their Christian God, rather than recognizing the superiority of Islamic swordsmanship. The essayists review how the beleaguered Christians viewed Mohammad as being the Anti-Christ, and review how well the early Christians really understood the Islamic faith - such as disputes regarding the Trinity, differences between the Bible and the Quran, did the Christian God differ from the Muslim Allah, were the perceptions viewed from military or political or theological differences, and the morality of Muslim ethics. The essayists also write about how monarchs and the clergy disagreed as to how they should establish a united front against the advancing Islamic tide through Asia Minor. One chapter is devoted to Islam in early Medieval Spain (760-860s), including the 851 movement when various Christian monks would walk into a nearby Muslim city (Cordoba) to proclaim that Muhammad was not a `true' prophet, and, as a result, the monk would be executed for heresy - this `Cordoban martyrs movement' went on for several years (p. 95). Not much about "this is Islam." Fine scholarly analysis regarding how both Christian monarchs and the clergy viewed Islam between 800-1400, but not really a whole lot of `writings' are really discussed - as so few have survived. Chpt 10: Jacob van Maerlant ; Chpt 11: "Portrayal of Muslims in Andrea da Barberino's `Guerrino il Meschino'; Chpt 12: Machomete and `Sir John Mandeville's Travels' (1357); chpt 13: Anti-Islamic propaganda in the age of Charles V (1528); Chpt 14: Spain in 1560-76; Chpt 15: The myth of Shah Ismail Safavi (1520s). There is no `big picture' review as to how the European monarchs tried to come together in developing some united front against Islam; nothing about the Crusades. This is NOT anything like a `travelogue' of reprints of Christian pilgrims writing home about their experiences while traveling through Muslim lands -- something I had really hoped for. A 'niche' book for the scholar interested in the above topics. No discussion regarding military battles.