Making of Christian Malta: From the Early Middle Ages to 1530 FROM THE PUBLISHER
Dr Luttrell's work has helped change our understanding of the history of the small islands of Malta and Gozo, providing a more coherent story of the ways in which, during the Middle Ages, a small isolated Muslim community was converted into a more prosperous outpost of Roman Christianity with a unique cultural mixture of Arabic speech and European institutions. This selection of studies places the process within the context of developments in the medieval Mediterranean world and combines archaeological and architectural investigations with work in Maltese, Sicilian and other archives, with a particular focus on ecclesiastical matters; a new introduction brings the subject up to date. This work is of relevance to scholars of Islam and Christianity, while providing insights into the nature of an unusual island community whose significance far exceeds its size.
SYNOPSIS
One new essay and 20 articles reproduced from publication between the 1970s and 1990s contribute to the revision of the Mediterranean island's history after it gained national independence in 1964. The topics include Malta before the Knights, some Libyan connections before 870, the 1698 Mdina hoard of Muslim coins, Giliberto Abbate's report of about 1241, Christian slaves, the sale of Gumerin in 1318, the Benedictines between 1363 and 1371, the 1402 Cappella of Birkirkara, the roots of Medieval Gozo, and the excavations of Hal Millieri. Two of the articles are in Italian, and another in French. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
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