medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
If the original question was, "Do any of you know if there are comparative
studies about Christians living under Islam in the Iberian Peninsula, Syria
etc, and the Balkans?" The answer is certainly not I, but I am sure that any of
the books already recommended do not contain such comparative studies. Such a
study, I believe, has not yet been undertaken.
The real comparison and contrast is not between different places under Islam,
but different _times_ and places under Islam. For example:
When the Arabs first conquered Syria and Mesopotamia they ruled a population
with a Christian majority and tolerated them, learned about Neoplatonism and
Aristotelian logic from them, and debated with them.
In Spain there is the Mosarab tradition--they maintained their identity as
Christians from the Islamic conquest until the present day. In North Africa the
Christian church virtually died out, but in Egypt it survived to he present day.
At the end of the 11th century several events had a role in ending cordial
relations between Christians and Muslims. The fall of Toledo 1085, the fall of
Sicily 1055, and the fall of Jerusalem in 1099. It must have seemed as if they
were being hit on all sides.
In the 12th century, the Muslim Almovids came into power in Spain and Jews and
Christians were forced to convert or flee. Other forced conversions took place
in North Africa.
This was off the cuff, but I can refer you to the sources if you wish them.
Maybe some day I will do this study. It is a good topic.
V. K. Inman
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