Yvonne Friedman – författare

Interludes of Peace in the Medieval Latin East undertakes a multifaceted examination of peacemaking processes as they unfolded in the medieval Latin East. Perhaps less heroic than war, these peacemaking endeavors make a significant contribution to our understanding of life in the medieval Middle East during the Crusades.This book considers how ceasefires, truces, and peace treaties were achieved through a process of mutual acculturation between Crusaders and local Muslim societies and the mechanisms employed to overcome both cultural and religious divides. Notwithstanding these warring societies’ differing concepts of lasting peace, this did not prevent them from engaging in treaty-making during the twocentury-long conflict in the Latin East.The story told here is of the quest for “small,” realistic peace, however fragile and temporary. In the process, a shared language of gestures, body language, and gift-giving was created that enabled and enhanced trust and coexistence. However, global political changes, economic developments, and new trade routes ultimately ended European rule in the medieval Middle East.

This volume represents a departure from the prevailing emphasis on religion and war in the medieval and early modern periods. Instead, the book explores the relationship between religion and peace in the context of Christianity, Islam, and Judaism, both as an ideal and on the practical level. The Introduction, which proposes a holistic model for analysis of violence/nonviolence-peace, provides a framework for understanding the various aspects of peacemaking during the period in question. The topics covered range from religion and diplomacy, peace movements grounded in religious ideals, the Muslim ideal of peace and actual peacemaking, Muslim-Christian treaties in the Latin East, papal policy in the Middle Ages and the twentieth century, the unique role of holy women who were spokeswomen for peace, the internal pursuit of peace in medieval Jewish society, and what fuelled religious tolerance in sixteenth-century Poland. As a whole, these chapters reflect how different societies reacted to and treated the “Other” in the context of peacemaking and overcame the conceptual gap with their ideology that promoted the belief that they possessed the one and only truth. They demonstrate that religion and religious institutions can serve as a positive influence and agents of peace.

This volume represents a departure from the prevailing emphasis on religion and war in the medieval and early modern periods. Instead, the book explores the relationship between religion and peace in the context of Christianity, Islam, and Judaism, both as an ideal and on the practical level. The Introduction, which proposes a holistic model for analysis of violence/nonviolence-peace, provides a framework for understanding the various aspects of peacemaking during the period in question. The topics covered range from religion and diplomacy, peace movements grounded in religious ideals, the Muslim ideal of peace and actual peacemaking, Muslim-Christian treaties in the Latin East, papal policy in the Middle Ages and the twentieth century, the unique role of holy women who were spokeswomen for peace, the internal pursuit of peace in medieval Jewish society, and what fuelled religious tolerance in sixteenth-century Poland. As a whole, these chapters reflect how different societies reacted to and treated the “Other” in the context of peacemaking and overcame the conceptual gap with their ideology that promoted the belief that they possessed the one and only truth. They demonstrate that religion and religious institutions can serve as a positive influence and agents of peace.