Europe and Islam (Making of Europe)

Features

• Cover Type: Paperback with 256 pages
• Published by: Wiley-Blackwell July 12, 2001
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 0631226370
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-0631226376
• Book Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Weighs: 13.4 ounces

From Library Journal
Cardini (medieval history, Univ. of Florence, Italy) here looks at the nature of the contacts between Islam and Europe, how these contacts have changed or not changed over the centuries, and why they occurred in the first place. Cardini's book is part of a greater multipublisher endeavor that seeks to examine the ongoing process of the making, or evolution, of 21st-century Europe. The continent has contained a large Muslim minority for centuries, but prior to the 15th century, Muslims were largely found in the Iberian Peninsula. Since then, this population has spread throughout southeastern Europe. Cardini concentrates on Mediterranean Islam (Turkey, the Middle East, and North Africa), as this is the form of Islam that most Europeans have had contact with. His look at the attitudes and prejudices that have informed the interactions between these two communities will help form the basis from which a more complete understanding can evolve. This book should prove useful to both specialists and general readers; highly recommended for academic and public libraries. Robert J. Andrews, Duluth P.L., MN
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Review
"This volume covers much ground: Western (mis)understandings of Islam, efforts to refute Islam, and latterly, to study it more objectively. Lucid and subtle recommended for undergraduates and above." Choice <!--end-->


"Europe and Islam is one of the titles in Blackwell's fine series the Making of Europe this is one of the rare treatments covering the expanse of 1,400 years of Islamic history in a single volume a worthy introduction to the topic of contacts between the Western world and Muslims." History: Reviews of New Books


"Europe and Islam is an interesting, readable text. It is perfect for university seminars in that it provides an overview of the history of the Christian-Muslim encounters and is sure to generate discussion and debate. And specialists will want to have a copy on their bookshelves as a reference" Islam and Christian-Muslim relations

"This volume covers much ground: Western (mis)understandings of Islam, efforts to refute Islam, and latterly, to study it more objectively. Lucid and subtle recommended for undergraduates and above." Choice "Europe and Islam is one of the titles in Blackwell's fine series the Making of Europe this is one of the rare treatments covering the expanse of 1,400 years of Islamic history in a single volume a worthy introduction to the topic of contacts between the Western world and Muslims." History: Reviews of New Books "Europe and Islam is an interesting, readable text. It is perfect for university seminars in that it provides an overview of the history of the Christian-Muslim encounters and is sure to generate discussion and debate. And specialists will want to have a copy on their bookshelves as a reference" Islam and Christian-Muslim relations

Reader Reviews
Franco Cardini manages to synthesize 1400 years of interaction between Europe and the Muslim world in one, handy tome. Despite its shortcomings (and they are noticeable) the book is a useful addition to anyone already initiated into the field of Middle East history -- this is not a book for consumption by the uninformed. Despite a glaringly unsatisfactory bibliography, most of the facts in the book are sound. Every page is crammed with detail, and it's hardly worth taking notes from this book, as one's notes are likely to be as long as the book itself! Cardini generally avoids "fluff", and sticks to the matter at hand pedantically well. This is not a grandly-written narrative, but an intensely informative textbook. However, there are a number of pitfalls Cardini makes, playing directly into the hands of the Politcally-Correct Establishment of the academic world. He dances awkwardly around the phrase "cross and crescent" in an attempt to play down the religious aspect of European-Muslim interaction, though it was a major aspect of European-Muslim relations for nearly a millenium. Instead, Cardini uses the clunky "Europe and Islam". Additionally, Cardini ignores a number of historical points. The swift, violent expansion of early Islam is boiled down to one dubious sentence, calling it, "a continuous, not always consistent process of conversion, imposed although seldom provoked." Cardini also declares that the battle of Tours-Poitiers in 732 had no major impact on Muslim expansion into Western Europe, though he admits, a few pages later, that the battle did indeed stop Muslim armies pushing into Gaul. Though this academic double-talk does not pervade the rest of the book, it is indeed present. Furthermore, other historical events are belittled to the point of unimportance. The sack of the Vatican in 846 by Muslims -- a HUGE event in medieval history -- recieves no more notice than a one-phrase acknowledgement that a "desecration" occured. However, despite occasional double-speak and the occasional questionable information, this book is a sound purchase for anyone already knowledgeable (to a small degree) in that field of history. Crammed with information not present in most wishy-washy books written for public consumption, Cardini does an excellent job at describing a bewilderingly complex series of interactions and conflicts that affect the world today.