Medieval Christian Perceptions of Islam: A Book of Essays ed. by John Victor Tolan
James M. Powell
766book reviews the Sullivan of Chapter 2, returns resolutely to context and its abundant diversity . Echoing Nees on multivalent symbols Noble ideological crosscurrents , Ganz asserts lack ofhomogeneity in a Carolingian culture that was fact many cultures. He argues for, perhaps exaggerates little, group-consciousness among scholars contrasting strikingly with what emerged twelfth century. focuses unerringly tensions between "the values monks aristocratic world they often left" (p. 261). Other emerge when recaUs German historiography 1930's which, for aU Nazi taint, highlighted something missing from more recent anodyne portrayals: Karl Hampe pitted Charlemagne, original-German layman," against ecclesiastical-classical educational ideal" (cited by Ganz, p. 267).To acknowledge these contradictory elements is not necessarily diminish it. Jacques Le Goff's question twelfth-century perspective (in Les intellectuels au moyen âge, 1969, English translation 1974,uncited anyone Sullivan's team) unsympathetic but inimitably shrewd: "can you have Renaissance hoarded instead sowing?" Ganz's own fleeting comparison century hints at other reservations. If only he had said "specific needs education conceived meet" 270) or activities thinks properly be annexed realm cultural history" 273). A teacher who gets scarcely look-in this book Dhuoda: she part ofa civUizing process heart ofCarolingian learning, which itseU presupposed much sowing. reminder (and it gentle) form power à propos. Perhaps, after all, Carolingianists need stUf dose Foucault (a seminal thinker fails make SuUivan 's Ust) Gramsci. Did "Carolingian education," as claims 275),"control institutions Frankish Empire"? so, controUed education?The elite, heterogeneous was, faced no simple task asserting hegemony. like alert echoes striving struggle. "Gentle voices" can deceptive. Alcuin rest wished theirs voices command. This book, mtermittently amplifying their masters' voices, leaves doubt teachers were heard. Janet L. Nelson King's College London Medieval Christian Perceptions ofIslam:A Book ofEssays. Edited JohnVictor Tolan. [Garland's Casebooks, Vol. 10; Garland Reference Library Humanities, 1768.] (New York: Publishing, Inc. 1996. Pp. xxi, 414. $60.00.) In his introduction,JohnV Tolan teUs us that"the authors ofthese essays provide series vignettes, discrete examples medieval perceptions Islam." His characterization weU put, since volume largely composed descriptive essays, most dealing lesser-known sources.The result quite BOOK REVIEWS767 useful wiU find place libraries. Since some texts are eastern origin all deal theological, historical, literary materials, range fifteen broad both geographical chronological terms. first essay, John Lamoreaux discusses early responses expansion ofIslam.This foUowed David Bundy Syriac andArmenian sources concerning conversion Mongols Islam Craig Hanson's discussion Manuel I Comnenus's theological intervention regarding Muslim view deity. Kenneth B.WoUupdates earlier work Cordobán martyrs, Thomas Burman provides an interesting ofTrinitarian issues aimed Islamic views Divine unity, found Tathltth al-wâhdanîyah. section fourteenth fifteenth centuries, Burr PhiUp Krey contribute discussions Franciscan writings reveal nuances works. Rather surprisingly, Lomax's essay Frederick II Saracens included here.The Western vernacular Uterature leads off very article Jacob van Maerland Geert Claassens,foUowed Andrea da Barberino's Guerrino U Meschino Gloria AUaire Sire MandeviUe Frank Grady.The concluding part, with...
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