«Secondo saraino buono huomo et fedele». La definizione del nemico tra topos e innovazione, in Invenzione e riscrittura nel racconto di viaggio

Abstract

This article analyzes the transformation of the topos of the Muslim enemy by exploring its depiction from Patrology and crusade epics to the representation in late medieval pilgrimage diaries. The Western perception of the Muslim world evolved from viewing it through a lens of heresy to one of idolatry, heavily influenced by the context and dynamics of interaction. When Islam was seen within an established system of knowledge, the Christian-heretical perspective dominated. Conversely, in direct, often military confrontations, Islam was depicted as idolatrous with pagan and demonic characteristics. Although echoes of Patrology and epic traditions persisted, a different discourse emerged in pilgrimage diaries, highlighting a tension between the desire to overcome the other and the resistance of a conservative cultural background. This study's uniqueness lies in its comprehensive examination of the entire Florentine corpus of pilgrimage diaries, filling a gap in systematic studies on the representation of otherness in the Italian context, a topic with significant implications for Western thought.