Christians and Muslims in Early Medieval Italy: Perceptions, Encounters, and Clashes [Hardcover]

In the early Middle Ages, Italy became the target of Muslim expansionist campaigns. The Muslims conquered Sicily, ruling there for more than two centuries, and conducted many raids against the Italian Peninsula. During this period, however, Christians and Muslims were not always at war  trade flourished, and travel to the territories of the other was not uncommon. By examining how Muslims and Christians perceived each other and how they communicated, this book brings the relationship between Muslims and Christians in early medieval Italy into clearer focus, showing that the followers of the Cross and those of the Crescent were in reality not as ignorant of one another as is commonly believed.

Introduction; 1. References, definitions, and circulation of news; 2. Religious Otherness; 3. Perceptions; 4. Some Light in the Darkness ; 5. Supernatural Events; 6. Why is the Enemy Attacking Us and Winning?; 7. Rewriting History; 8. The Enemy is Coming; 9. Prisoners; 10. Going to the Other ; 11. Encounters; Conclusions

In the early Middle Ages Italy became the target of Muslim expansionist campaigns. By examining how Muslims and Christians perceived each other and how they communicated, this book brings the relationship between Muslims and Christians in early medieval Italy into clearer focus.

Luigi Andrea Berto is Professor of Medieval History at Western Michigan University, USA. His research focuses on medieval Italy and the Mediterranean, with a special interest in the use of the past and the relationships between Christians and Muslims.