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'The Mirage of the Saracen analyzes the growth of monasticism and Christian settlements in the Sinai Peninsula through the early seventh century CE. Walter D. Ward examines the ways in which Christian monks justified occupying the Sinai through creating associations between Biblical narratives and Sinai sites while assigning uncivilized, negative, and oppositional traits to the indigenous nomadic population, whom the Christians pejoratively called "Saracens." By writing edifying tales of hostile nomads and the ensuing martyrdom of the monks, Christians not only reinforced their claims to the spiritual benefits of asceticism but also also provoked the Roman authorities to enhance defense of pilgrimage routes to the Sinai. When Muslim armies later began conquering the Middle East, Christians also labeled these new conquerors as Saracens, connecting Muslims to these pre-Islamic representations. This timely and relevant work builds a historical account of interreligious encounters in the ancient world, showing the Sinai as a crucible for forging long-lasting images of both Christians and Muslims, some of which endure today.'--Provided by publisher.

Monasticism and religious orders --- Christianity --- Nomads --- Pilgrims and pilgrimages --- Monachisme et ordres religieux --- Christianisme --- Nomades --- Pélerins et pélerinages --- History --- 271 <531 SINAI> --- Processions, Religious --- Travelers --- Voyages and travels --- Shrines --- Nomadic peoples --- Nomadism --- Pastoral peoples --- Vagabonds --- Wanderers --- Persons --- Herders --- Religions --- Church history --- Monachism --- Monastic orders --- Monasticism and religious orders for men --- Monasticism and religious orders of men --- Orders, Monastic --- Religious orders --- Brotherhoods --- Christian communities --- Brothers (Religious) --- Friars --- Monks --- Superiors, Religious --- History. --- Kloosterwezen. Religieuze orden en congregaties. Monachisme--Sinaï Schiereiland--SINAI --- Pélerins et pélerinages --- Orders, Religious --- Pilgrimages and pilgrims --- Christianity and other religions --- Syncretism (Christianity) --- Relations --- Sinai (Egypt) --- Sinai --- Sīnāʼ (Egypt) --- Sinai Peninsula (Egypt) --- Sinaitic Peninsula (Egypt) --- Shibh Jazīrat Sīnāʼ (Egypt) --- Shamāl Sīnāʼ (Egypt) --- Janūb Sīnāʼ (Egypt) --- Religion. --- Spiritual tourism --- Monasticism and religious orders - Egypt - Sinai --- Christianity - Egypt - Sinai --- Nomads - Egypt - Sinai - History --- Pilgrims and pilgrimages - Egypt - Sinai --- Sinaï --- ancient african history. --- ancient history. --- ancient world. --- bible. --- biblical narratives. --- biblical study. --- christian monks. --- christian settlements. --- christianity. --- christians. --- classical. --- comparative religion. --- defense of pilgrimage. --- early seventh century. --- egyptian history. --- indigenous nomadic population. --- islam. --- late antiquity. --- martyrdom. --- monasticism. --- muslim. --- nomads. --- religious history. --- religious studies. --- saracens. --- sinai peninsula. --- spiritual benefits of asceticism. --- transformation of the classical heritage series.