This book provides translated selections from the writings of Muhammad Ibn Othman al-Miknasi (d. 1799). The only writings by an Arab-Muslim in the pre-modern period that present a comparative perspective his travelogues provide unique insight with in to Christendom and Islam. Translating excerpts from his three travelogues this book tells the story of al-Miknasiâs travels from 1779-1788. As an ambassador al-Miknasi was privy to court life government offices and religious buildings and he provides detailed accounts of cities people customs ransom negotiations historical events and political institutions. Including descriptions of Europeans Arabs Turks Christians (both European and Eastern) Muslims Jews and (American) Indians in the last quarter of the eighteenth century An Arab Ambassador in the Mediterranean World explores how the most travelled Muslim writer of the pre-modern period saw the world: from Spain to Arabia and from Morocco to Turkey with second-hand information about the New World. Supplemented with extensive notes detailing the historic and political relevance of the translations this book is of interest to researchers and scholars of Mediterranean History Ottoman Studies and Muslim-Christian relations. . Language: English