The Great Confrontation: Europe and Islam Through the Centuries

Rating:
Summary: Worthy telling of West-Islamic relations history
Review: Fair minded account of relations between Europe and Islam through history. Somewhat more coverage of Russia and Central Asia than typically found. Puts 'religious' factor in perspective when describing social, economic, political, and diplomatic inter relationships. There is little coverage of important 'colonial era' relations; cultural misunderstandings; economic globalization; Western interference against Democratic efforts in the Middle East. Most of all the author continues unfortunate habit of describing 'Islam' while ignoring that most Muslims live in Asia (like Lewis, Huntington, and the rest almost to a man). Still,this is much better than many books attempting to cover the story.