The Travels of Ibn Jubayr and his View of Saladin

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter (peer-reviewed)

Abstract

Using the travel account of the Spanish Muslim pilgrim, Ibn Jubayr, this article tests the statement commonly found in modern histories that Saladin 'unified the Muslim world', a view often based on sources close to the sultan's own court. Ibn Jubayr certainly admired Saladin (in itself a valuable test of his virtues from an outsider) but makes plain that the Muslim Near East was an immensely complex society with a considerable amount of sectarian tension.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationCultural Encounters During the Crusades
EditorsKurt Villads Jensen, Kirsi Salonen, Helle Vogt
Place of PublicationAarhus
PublisherUniversity Press of Southern Denmark
Pages75-90
ISBN (Print)978-87-7674-659-9
Publication statusPublished - 2013

Keywords

  • Saladin, Medieval Islam, Travel

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