Mirage of the Saracen : Christians and Nomads in the Sinai Peninsula in Late Antiquity / Walter D. Ward.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Ward, Walter D., Author.

Series:

Transformation of the classical heritage ; LIV.

Transformation of the Classical Heritage ; 54

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Monasticism and religious orders--Egypt--Sinai.

Monasticism and religious orders.

Christianity--Egypt--Sinai.

Christianity.

Christianity and other religions--Egypt--Sinai.

Christianity and other religions.

Sinai (Egypt)--History--To 1500.

Sinai (Egypt).

Sinai (Egypt)--Religion.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (222 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Berkeley, CA : University of California Press, [2014]

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Mirage of the Saracen analyzes the growth of monasticism and Christian settlements in the Sinai Peninsula through the early seventh century C.E. Walter D. Ward examines the ways in which Christian monks justified occupying the Sinai through creating associations between Biblical narratives and Sinai sites while assigning uncivilized, negative, and oppositional traits to the indigenous nomadic population, whom the Christians pejoratively called "Saracens." By writing edifying tales of hostile nomads and the ensuing martyrdom of the monks, Christians not only reinforced their claims to the spiritual benefits of asceticism but also provoked the Roman authorities to enhance defense of pilgrimage routes to the Sinai. When Muslim armies later began conquering the Middle East, Christians also labeled these new conquerors as Saracens, connecting Muslims to these pre-Islamic representations. This timely and relevant work builds a historical account of interreligious encounters in the ancient world, showing the Sinai as a crucible for forging long-lasting images of both Christians and Muslims, some of which endure today.

Contents:

Frontmatter

Contents

List of Illustrations

Preface

Note on Sources

Abbreviations

Introduction

1. Saracens

2. Monasticism and Pilgrimage in the Sinai

3. The Sinai as Christian Space

4. Martyrdom in the Sinai

5. Imperial Response to the Saracen Threat

6. The Murderous Sword of the Saracen

Bibliography

Index

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on online resource; title from PDF title page (publisher's Web site, viewed 24. Apr 2020)

ISBN:

9780520959521

0520959523

OCLC:

894169810