The Medieval Canon and the Renaissance Image of the Turk: A Brief Historiography of Pre-Modern European Conceptions of the Muslim World

Authors

A. Blake Denton, University of South AlabamaFollow

Short Title

Pre-Modern European Conceptions of the Muslim World

Document Type

Article

Abstract

This historiographic essay examines the scholarly debate over pre-modern European “images,” or conceptions, of the Muslim World during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Adopting a thematic approach, this study is guided by four themes shared by two or more works. While this essay largely revolves around the image studies of Nancy Bisaha, Norman Daniel, and Robert Schwoebel, the interpretations of additional scholars are presented as well. Though points of convergence exists between the works presented here, far more telling is the fact that the sharp contrasts between these historians aptly illustrates the challenge of determining the precise nature of the pre-modern European image of Islam, with all its abstract complexity.

Cover Page Footnote

A. Blake Denton is much indebted to Dr. Michael L. Monheit and Dr. Leanne Good for their invaluable advice and assistance with earlier drafts of this essay. This article is a more sound publication because of them. He is also grateful for the professors of the University of South Alabama’s history department who encouraged him to pursue publishing this essay. Last but by no means least, he would like to thank his parents, Kenneth and Karen Denton, for supporting him in all of his endeavors.

Recommended Citation

Denton, A. Blake (2015) "The Medieval Canon and the Renaissance Image of the Turk: A Brief Historiography of Pre-Modern European Conceptions of the Muslim World," Madison Historical Review: Vol. 12, Article 5.
Available at: https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/mhr/vol12/iss1/5