The Image of the West in the Writings of 7th Century AH/13th Century CE Historians

Abstract

This study sheds light on the West from various perspectives as presented in the works of 7th-century AH/13th century CE historians. These historians undertook the task of examining the most important events and developments in Western countries, driven by a desire to understand the West. The study aims to clarify the historical geography of the West. Some historians presented a picture of the geography of the Byzantine Empire and the Slavic lands, describing their mountains, topography, climate, and important islands and gulfs. Furthermore, many historians, in their studies of the West, offered insights into the main motivations that drove them to study the West and investigate the facts, thus clarifying the image of the West for the reader. Some of these motives stemmed from a personal desire to learn about other cultures and obtain documented information that could be considered official records. Other motives were social, aiming to illustrate the social realities of Western countries, including customs, traditions, and the ceremonies of kings and sultans during holidays and special occasions. Economic motives drove historians to study the economic realities of Western countries, while political and military motives enabled historians of the 7th century AH/13th century CE to provide a concise overview of the West.