This vigorously argued book reveals the central role that Islam hasplayed in European history. Following the movement of people,culture and religion from East to West, Goody breaks down theperceived opposition between Islam and Europe, showing Islam to bea part of Europe's past and present. In an historical analysis ofreligious warfare and forced migration, Goody examines ourunderstanding of legitimate violence, ethnic cleansing andterrorism. His comparative perspective offers important andilluminating insights into current political problems andconflicts.Goody traces three routes of Islam into Europe, following theArab through North Africa, Spain and Mediterranean Europe; the Turkthrough Greece and the Balkans; and the Mongol through SouthernRussia to Poland and Lithuania. Each thrust made its mark on Europein terms of population and culture. Yet this was not merely amilitary impact: especially in Spain, but elsewhere too, Europe wassubstantially modified by this contact. Today it takes the form ofsome eleven million immigrants, not to speak of the possibleincorporation of further millions through Bosnia, Albania andTurkey.