Early on, many Westerners viewed Islam as a Christian heresy rather than a completely separate religion, which led to Catholics and Protestants accusing each other of being "virtually Muslims". 3. Shifting Perceptions (1450–1750) The guide to Malcolm's chronological coverage includes:
The idea of "oriental despotism" did not begin as a simple insult. It evolved as a response to positive assessments of Ottoman power. Useful Enemies: Islam and the Ottoman Empire in...
Malcolm argues that the Ottomans were not just external threats to be feared, but in Western thought. Thinkers used Ottoman examples to: Early on, many Westerners viewed Islam as a