Expert: Maria - 8/15/2003

Question
I will begin with my insights on the subject:  
                                              The Byzantines and the Muslims were two very different cultures trying to occupy much of the same territory.  The Byzantine, or Eastern Roman Empire was Greek-speaking, largley Roman in culture, and Christian.  It was well past its prime, and becoming decadent.  

Islam was a brand new religion that swept out of Arabia in the 17th century, bringing with it an aggressive, optimistic, youthful culture.  

Both, supposedly, worshipped the same God, but they came to hate one another bitterly.  Throughout all of their centuries of struggle, leaders and philosophers on both sides have called for understanding and reconciliation.  So far it hasn't happened.

Maria, what do you suppose the differences and similarities are between the Christian and Muslim societies in the Near East that forced them into bitter rivalry?  Why do you suppose this bitterness has carried down into the 20th century?

You were such a tremendous help with a previous question.......I thought I would bother you again!

Thanks so much!
Kim

Answer
Hello Kim,

First, I have to point out that my field of expertise covers Ancient Greek and Roman History until 476 AD, i.e. till the Fall of the Western Roman Empire; thus the Byzantine Empire and especially  the Ottoman one as well as Islam do not belong to my specific knowledge(see my profile).

Anyway, I can tell you my opinion on this matter.

First of all, I have to stress that Islam, brought into being by Mohammed in the 7th. century AD and then spread by conversion and military conquest throughout North Africa, West and Central Asia, as well as Europe, since Arabs invaded and controlled large portions of Spain between the 7th and 15th centuries, while Turks invaded the Balkans around the 15th century, did not sweep out of Arabia in the 17th century, as you say, but long before indeed.

Moreover  Islam, that has nothing to do with the Byzantine Empire and its Christian Greco-orthodox religion, but merely took this religion's place when the Turks defeated the Byzantines in 1453, spread throughout many countries by military conquest rather than by missionary spirit.

We must however say that the face of Islam in Istanbul, for example, is broadminded and therefore  very different  from that in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Anyway, generally speaking, I think that there are so many differences between the Christians and Muslims especially in the way of conceiving life that they do not get on at all well together.
In fact, for example, one of the reasons why Islam has been stigmatized by some is that it is seen as a life-style, rather than a religion, since Islam does regulate many aspects of social life such as woman's condition, marriage, inheritance, and even personal hygiene.

As for rivalry between the Christian and Muslim societies, it always been like that, though with ups and downs in the course of the centuries, and increased now not  so much for religious reasons as for political/economic motives that would need an expert in this specific field.

So, I do not know whether I've been helpful to you, but this is not my area, as I've already said.

Hope anyway I gave you some starting points.

All the best
Maria