Hamilton Gibb and His Works on Islam and the Crusades: Between the Mirror of Orientalism and History

Abstract

This study evaluates the works of the prominent British Orientalist Hamilton Gibb, who contributed to Islamic studies in the 20th century, particularly through his book Studies on the Civilization of Islam and his research on the Crusades. The study approaches his works first from an Orientalist perspective, which examines the intellectual backgrounds that shaped Western perceptions of Islam, and second, from a historical perspective, which analyses his methodology in treating Islamic texts as living material, combining textual investigation with historical analysis. The study focuses on how he handled the dichotomy of "Western" and "Islamic" narratives and seeks to re-evaluate his standing not only as a historian but as an influential actor who contributed to shaping the West's understanding of Islamic history, while offering a critical reading of his works and methodology.