Were the Muslims set on conquering Europe? And how did Europeans respond? In this first episode, Maurits Berger tells the stories of the first encounters between Europe and Islam. 

Matters of Humanities: History of Islam in Europe
People are often surprised that the history of the Islam in Europe is so much more than a history of wars. It's also a story of diplomacy and trade, knowledge and arts, from Muslims living together with Christians and Europeans for centuries. Muslims and the Islam are not things that just 'happened' to Europe, they are part of Europe. In this podcast series, professor Maurits Berger talks about the history of the Islam in Europe: going back to the first Muslim who set foot in Europe, and seeing what kind of interactions have taken place between Muslims and Europeans since then.

Music score
Ilias Valaris, aka DJ Valeron: 'Moroccan Night' (Europe) • Nay - Arabian Music: 'Hijaz' (Middle East) • Aicha Redouane: 'Allahu ya'lamu anna n-nafsa' (Andalusia) • Jordi Saval: 'A chantar m'er de so' (France) • Maria del mar Bonnet, 'Se Nuaven Alhasmarilon' (Balearic Islands) • unknown: Ukranian Middle Age Music (Ukraine) • Christodolous Halaris, Byzantine secular music - Master Lambadarios (Byzantine)