Ep. 7: The History: The Long History of Jewish-Muslim Relations in the Arab World (Prof. Dr. Norm...

Описание: Guest: Prof. Dr. Norman Stillman, Professor Emeritus of Judaic Studies, University of Oklahoma



Hosts: Yusuf & Efe



Bio: Prof. Norman A. Stillman is a world leading authority on Jewish life in the Islamic world. He is Professor Emeritus of Judaic History at the University of Oklahoma and author of seminal works including The Jews of Arab Lands and The Jews of Arab Lands in Modern Times. He also served as founding editor of the Encyclopedia of Jews in the Islamic World, the most comprehensive reference ever assembled on the subject. His scholarship spans Muslim-Jewish relations, Judeo-Arabic culture, and Sephardic history, shaping generations of students and researchers.



In this episode: This episode explores the long history of Jewish life in the Middle East and North Africa, tracing communities that flourished for over two millennia across cities like Baghdad, Cairo, Tunis, Aleppo, and Sana’a. Professor Stillman offers an overview of Jewish-Muslim relations from the rise of Islam through the early modern period, highlighting the legal, social, and cultural frameworks that shaped daily life. Topics include the dhimmi system, traditions of Muslim anti-Judaism, and periods of coexistence and cultural exchange-most notably the House of Wisdom in Baghdad, where Muslims, Jews, and Christians advanced philosophy, science, and medicine. At its high points, Jewish life in Muslim societies was safer and more vibrant than in Christian Europe. Stillman also examines the effects of European colonialism, Arab nationalism, and early Zionist movements on regional Jewish communities. This episode provides a foundational understanding of the historical, cultural, and religious contexts framing centuries of complex Jewish-Muslim interaction in the Arab world.



This episode was recorded on August 12, 2025.



Links:

Prof. Dr. Norman Stillman: https://marquistopeducators.com/2024/...

Stillman, Norman A. The Jews of Arab Lands: A History and Source Book. Jewish Publication Society, 1979. https://www.zvab.com/9780827601987/Je...

Stillman, Norman A. The Jews of Arab Lands in Modern Times. Jewish Publication Society, 2003. https://www.zvab.com/Jews-Arab-Lands-...

Stillman, Norman A., ed. Encyclopedia of Jews in the Islamic World. Brill, 2010. https://referenceworks.brill.com/disp...

Stillman, Norman A., et al., eds. Antisemitism: A Historical Encyclopedia of Prejudice and Persecution. ABC-CLIO / Bloomsbury Academic, 2005. https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/antisem...

Academia.edu: shorturl.at/y9hNG (https://shorturl.at/y9hNG)



Please also explore our other episodes to discover multiple perspectives.



Disclaimer:

Guest opinions are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the podcast team.

Technical legal terms are explained in Episode 36 with Prof. Claus Kreß; contested histories are addressed by Prof. Gudrun Krämer in Episode 21.