‘Conversion’ to Islam in Early Medieval Europe: Historical and Archaeological Perspectives on Arab and Northern Eurasian Interactions
In recent years, the influence of Muslims and Islam on developments in medieval Europe has captured the attention of scholars and the general public alike. Nevertheless, ‘conversion’ to Islam remains a challenging subject for historical research and demands more transdisciplinary collaborations. Thi...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-07-01
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| Series: | Religions |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/12/7/544 |
| _version_ | 1827686909185359872 |
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| author | Sara Ann Knutson Caitlin Ellis |
| author_facet | Sara Ann Knutson Caitlin Ellis |
| author_sort | Sara Ann Knutson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In recent years, the influence of Muslims and Islam on developments in medieval Europe has captured the attention of scholars and the general public alike. Nevertheless, ‘conversion’ to Islam remains a challenging subject for historical research and demands more transdisciplinary collaborations. This article examines early medieval interactions between Muslim Arabs and Northern and Eastern Europeans as a case study for whether some individuals in Northern Eurasia ‘converted’ to Islam. More importantly, we address some key examples and lines of evidence that demonstrate why the process of ‘conversion’ to Islam is not more visible in the historical and archaeological records of Northern Eurasia. We find that, despite the well-established evidence for economic exchanges between the Islamic World and Northern Eurasia, the historical and material records are much more complex, but not entirely silent, on the issue of religious change. We also conclude that religious connectivity and exchanges, including with Islam, were common in early medieval Northern Eurasia, even if it is difficult in most cases to identify conclusive instances of ‘conversion’ to Islam. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:25:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0e49900723cf41b68c8c14c4cb35e57e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-1444 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:25:17Z |
| publishDate | 2021-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Religions |
| spelling | doaj.art-0e49900723cf41b68c8c14c4cb35e57e2023-11-22T04:50:06ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442021-07-0112754410.3390/rel12070544‘Conversion’ to Islam in Early Medieval Europe: Historical and Archaeological Perspectives on Arab and Northern Eurasian InteractionsSara Ann Knutson0Caitlin Ellis1Anthropology Department, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USADepartment of History, Durham University, Durham DH1 3EX, UKIn recent years, the influence of Muslims and Islam on developments in medieval Europe has captured the attention of scholars and the general public alike. Nevertheless, ‘conversion’ to Islam remains a challenging subject for historical research and demands more transdisciplinary collaborations. This article examines early medieval interactions between Muslim Arabs and Northern and Eastern Europeans as a case study for whether some individuals in Northern Eurasia ‘converted’ to Islam. More importantly, we address some key examples and lines of evidence that demonstrate why the process of ‘conversion’ to Islam is not more visible in the historical and archaeological records of Northern Eurasia. We find that, despite the well-established evidence for economic exchanges between the Islamic World and Northern Eurasia, the historical and material records are much more complex, but not entirely silent, on the issue of religious change. We also conclude that religious connectivity and exchanges, including with Islam, were common in early medieval Northern Eurasia, even if it is difficult in most cases to identify conclusive instances of ‘conversion’ to Islam.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/12/7/544religious conversionCaliphateIbn FadlanVikingsRus’medieval Eurasia |
| spellingShingle | Sara Ann Knutson Caitlin Ellis ‘Conversion’ to Islam in Early Medieval Europe: Historical and Archaeological Perspectives on Arab and Northern Eurasian Interactions Religions religious conversion Caliphate Ibn Fadlan Vikings Rus’ medieval Eurasia |
| title | ‘Conversion’ to Islam in Early Medieval Europe: Historical and Archaeological Perspectives on Arab and Northern Eurasian Interactions |
| title_full | ‘Conversion’ to Islam in Early Medieval Europe: Historical and Archaeological Perspectives on Arab and Northern Eurasian Interactions |
| title_fullStr | ‘Conversion’ to Islam in Early Medieval Europe: Historical and Archaeological Perspectives on Arab and Northern Eurasian Interactions |
| title_full_unstemmed | ‘Conversion’ to Islam in Early Medieval Europe: Historical and Archaeological Perspectives on Arab and Northern Eurasian Interactions |
| title_short | ‘Conversion’ to Islam in Early Medieval Europe: Historical and Archaeological Perspectives on Arab and Northern Eurasian Interactions |
| title_sort | conversion to islam in early medieval europe historical and archaeological perspectives on arab and northern eurasian interactions |
| topic | religious conversion Caliphate Ibn Fadlan Vikings Rus’ medieval Eurasia |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/12/7/544 |
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