Sicily and the Mediterranean - by Claudia Karagoz & Giovanna Summerfield (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Positioned near the center of the Mediterranean, the island of Sicily has for centuries been an integral part of hegemonic European geopolitical formations as well as a meeting point where civilizations transformed one another and gave life to the cultural developments at the foundation of European modernity. At the same time, Sicily continues to be a key site of encounter, advancement, and dissemination of Mediterranean cultures. Yet, while the legacies of past and present cross-cultural encounters in Spain and other Mediterranean regions have received ample scholarly attention, Sicily's significance as a key Mediterranean crossroads has been neglected far too often. The interdisciplinary essays collected in this volume explore Sicily's complex and rich history as a locus where the interplay of diverse peoples, cultures, and religions has produced conflict but also new forms of material and intellectual exchange. They highlight Sicily's unique role as a junction between East and West and the Mediterranean and Europe, emphasizing the island's cultural influence across geographical and temporal boundaries"--

Book Synopsis

The island of Sicily has for centuries been a meeting point where civilizations transformed one another and gave life to the cultural developments at the foundation of European modernity. The essays collected here explore Sicily as a place where these cultural interactions have produced conflict but also new material and intellectual exchange.

About the Author

Norma Bouchard, University of Connecticut, USA Gaetano Cipolla, St. John's University, USA Pinella Di Gregorio, University of Catania, Italy Geoffrey Hull, Macquarie University, New South Wales Lina Insana, University of Pittsburgh, USA Iolanda Lanzafame, University of Catania, Italy Giovanna Palombo, University of California, Berkeley, USA Maria Sorbello, University of Catania, Italy