The [European] Other in Medieval Arabic Literature and Culture

Abstract

Contrary to the monolithic impression left by postcolonial theories of Orientalism, the book makes the case that Orientals did not exist solely to be gazed at. Exploring a cross-section of 9th to the 12th century, non-religious Arabic prose and poetic texts such as the geo-cosmographical literature, récits de voyages, diplomatic memoirs, captivity narratives, pre-Crusade and Crusade poetry, Nizar F. Hermes shows that there was no shortage of medieval Muslims who cast curious eyes and minds towards the European Other and that more than a handful of them were textually and physically interested in Europe. Prelims pages i–xii Preface and Acknowledgments pages xiii–xiv Note on Transliteration pages xv–xvi Note on the Translation of Arabic Poetry pages xvii–xviii Introduction: Be(yond)fore Orientalism; Medieval Muslims and the Other pages 1–10 Chapter 1. Translation, Travel, and the Other: The Fascination with Greek and Oriental Cultures pages 11–38 Chapter 2. European Barbarity and Civilization in Some Medieval Arabic Geographical Sources: Al-Masudi and al-Bakri as Two Case Studies pages 39–70 Chapter 3. Writing the North: Europe and Europeans in Medieval Arabic Travel Literature pages 71–134 Chapter 4. Poetry, Frontiers, and Alterity: Views and Perceptions of al-Rum (Byzantines) and al-Ifranja (Franks) pages 135–170 Conclusion pages 171–176 Appendix of Translated Poetry pages 177–182 Notes pages 183–210 Bibliography pages 211–226 Index pages 227–241