The Crescent Obscured: The United States and the Muslim World, 1776-1815From the beginning of the colonial period to the recent conflicts in the Middle East, encounters with the Muslim world have helped Americans define national identity and purpose. Focusing on America's encounter with the Barbary states of North Africa from 1776 to 1815, Robert Allison traces the perceptions and mis-perceptions of Islam in the American mind as the new nation constructed its ideology and system of government. "A powerful ending that explains how the experience with the Barbary states compelled many Americans to look inward . . . with increasing doubts about the institution of slavery." —David W. Lesch, Middle East Journal "Allison's incisive and informative account of the fledgling republic's encounter with the Muslim world is a revelation with a special pertinence to today's international scene." —Richard W. Bulliet, Journal of Interdisciplinary History "This book should be widely read. . . . Allison's study provides a context for understanding more recent developments, such as America's tendency to demonize figures like Iran's Khumaini, Libya's Qaddafi, and Iraq's Saddam." —Richard M. Eaton, Eighteenth Century Studies |
Other editions - View all
The Crescent Obscured: The United States and the Muslim World, 1776-1815 Robert Allison Limited preview - 2000 |
The Crescent Obscured: The United States and the Muslim World, 1776-1815 Robert Allison Limited preview - 2014 |
Common terms and phrases
Ahmed Algerian Algerine Captive Algiers American captives American consul American ships Arabs asked Bacris Barbary Barlow Bashaw benevolent Boston British captain captive in Algiers captured Cathcart to Eaton Christian citizens commerce Congress consul Decatur despotism diplomatic Eaton Papers England English enslaved Europe European father Federalists France freedom frigate Hassan Heraclitus Humanity in Algiers Humphreys Imposture Islam James James Leander Cathcart John Adams John Paul Jones knew Lady Mary liberty Mahomet Mediterranean merchant military moral Morocco Muhammad Muslim world Narrative nation navy negotiate North Africa O'Brien Pacha peace Philadelphia Aurora political president Prideaux prisoners redeem religious Republican Richard O'Brien Riley Riley's Roxalana Secretary Sidi Hamet slavery Solyman story suffering sultan thought tion trade treaty tribute Tripoli Tripolitan Tunis Tunisian Turkey Turkish Turks tyranny United Volney wanted Washington William Bainbridge William Eaton women wrote York Evening Post Yusuf Qaramanli Zaphira