A Christian pilgrim in medieval Iraq
Subtitle: Riccoldo da Montecroce's encounter with Islam
By: by Rita George-Tvrtković
Contributors: Ricoldo, da Montecroce, 1242 or 1243-1320; Ricoldo, da Montecroce, 1242 or 1243-1320
Series: Medieval voyaging -- volume 1; Medieval voyaging -- v. 1.
Publisher: Brepols
Published: 2012
Place of publication: Turnhout, Belgium
Language: eng
Number of pages: 248
ISBN-13: 9782503532370
Copyright date: 2012
Subjects: Travel; Knowledge and learning; Islam; Early works to 1800; Christian interpretations; Christianity and other religions; Christian pilgrims and pilgrimages; Qurʼan
Description: This book analyses the events of a decade-long encounter between an Italian Dominican, Riccoldo da Montecroce (c. 1243-1320), and the Muslims of Baghdad, as recounted by the friar himself. While many of Riccoldo's views of the Muslims are consonant with those of his medieval confrères, George-Tvrtkovic examines the much more ambivalent sections of his writings, such as his praise-filled descriptions of Muslim praxis, his obvious love of Qur'anic Arabic, his frequent references to personal encounters with Muslims, and his candid descriptions of the wonder and doubt which these confrontations often elicited. George-Tvrtkovic argues that the tensions and inconsistencies inherent in Riccoldo's account of Islam should not be viewed as defects. Rather, she contends, their presence illustrates the complex nature of interreligious encounter itself.
Notes: "MV 1"--Spine.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 229-239) and indexes.
Table of contents: title: Riccoldo in situ; title: Beyond polemic : genres and context of medieval "dialogue"; title: Muslim works of perfection; title: "I read it in Arabic!"; title: Questioning salvation history; title: Wonder, doubt, and dissonance : Riccoldo's theology of Islam; title: Epilogue; title: Appendix A. Five letters on the fall of Acre (1291); title: Appendix B. The book of pilgrimage.