Preface One

Abstract

As the head of ORDAM (Middle East and Africa Studies Application and Research Center), I am proud to present this volume, a testament to rigorous scholarship on coexistence in medieval Anatolia and Iberia. Emerging from the Medworlds workshop held in May 2022, this collection brings together leading scholars to examine the complexities of interfaith and intercultural relations beyond simple narratives of harmony or conflict. The Medworlds conferences, as an ongoing academic endeavor, have played a crucial role in fostering dialogue and collaboration among scholars, and this volume stands as a reflection of that tradition. This book highlights how diplomacy, trade, and shared cultural practices shaped coexistence across religious and political boundaries. By bridging Anatolian and Iberian experiences, it challenges academic compartmentalization and emphasizes the Mediterranean as a dynamic zone of interaction. The chapters demonstrate that coexistence was not an idealistic vision but a pragmatic necessity shaped by shifting power structures and economic realities.