BOOK REVIEW: "ARABS AND SARDINIA" BY ANGELA DAIANA LANGONE AND GIULIANO MION

Abstract

This work presents a review of "Arabs and Sardinia" by Angela Daiana Langone and Giuliano Mion. It constitutes a scholarly study in Italian that examines the history of relations between Arabs and the Italian island of Sardinia from a distinct orientalist perspective, in which the authors focus more on the impact that Arabs left on the island, while presenting different perspectives of Arabs who had contact with Sardinia. The sources utilized in the book diversified between historical works, ancient and modern travel literature, literary works, and encyclopedias. This work (the review) attempts to present the book and its chapters while simplifying its content for the reader by clarifying its most important ideas, theses, and distinguishing features, without neglecting to discuss its contents and perspectives in order to provide an addition to knowledge in the field of orientalist studies that have dealt with Arab culture and its influence on other cultures. This is particularly significant as this book appears different in its approach from the orientalist tradition that has not allocated much of its work to demonstrating the positive Arab impact on Europe and the West in general.