The making of a world historical moment: The Battle of Tours (732/3) in the nineteenth century
James T. Palmer
The Battle of Tours (or Poitiers) in 732/3 is frequently cited as a turning point world history, when the advance Muslim Arabs was decisively halted by Christian army Frankish mayor Charles Martel. Yet battle and its reputation seem relatively modest earliest sources, with little sense that conquest or religious tensions were key issues. This paper explores how importance became amplified grand historical narratives produced across Europe U.S. nineteenth century, historians contributed to arguments about national identities. It highlights particular ways historians, from Michelet Oman, led their own dispositions speculating what could have happened had result been different. In process, although interpretations often differed, debate generated legend popular modern political discourse.
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