Routledge - Meeting the Foreign in the Middle Ages Book

Explore the complex relationships between medieval society and the figure of the foreign Other in this scholarly collection from Routledge. Part of the Medieval Casebooks series, this volume brings together a group of historical, cultural, and literary scholars to examine the nuanced ways different groups were perceived during this era. Through an analysis of medieval literature, historical documents, religious treatises, and art, the essays investigate the coexistence of desire and dread. The text looks at how various groups, including Muslims, Jews, heretics, pagans, homosexuals, lepers, monsters, and witches, were represented in the medieval world. This collection provides a deep look into the unprecedented encounters that shaped medieval history. Readers will find a detailed study of how fascination and fear met in the social and cultural landscape of the Middle Ages. It is an essential resource for those studying medieval history, literature, and the evolution of cultural identity.