’Clash of civilizations’, Crusades, Knights and Ottomans : an analysis of Christian-Muslim interaction in the Mediterranean

摘要

In a world that has become so powerfully gripped by a possible escalation of a ‘clash ofudcivilizations’ that could spiral out of control, interest in the history of Christian-Muslimudencounters and violence is on the rise. The aim of this chapter is to provide someudhistorical depth to a debate that often tends to be shallow in its appreciation of a complexudlegacy of interaction between different people. It will commence with an overviewudof the recent debate that emerged in response to the ideas of Samuel P. Huntington.udIt will then consider the historical implications of the crusades in the way they haveudcome to colour contemporary West-Muslim relations. Finally, the chapter will consideruda number of naval battles between the Knights Hospitallers of St. John the Baptist andudthe Ottoman Empire as a case study in early modern Christian-Muslim interaction.udThis relationship will be looked at from the religious angle, but other factors that informedudthis conflict, such as status and masculinity, will also be considered.