About Conversion to Islam in Early Modern North Africa (1500–1800): A Study in Terminology and Narratives
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Conversion to Islam in Early Modern North Africa (1500–1800): A Study in Terminology and Narratives Kindle Edition
Dr.kerbach Belkacem
Picture this: a French boy, taken as a captive and sold to a North African, rises to become a fearsome North African pirate king, only to be captured years later and thrown into the clutches of the Spanish Inquisition, where he wages a six-year psychological war to prove he is no longer European, but a devout Muslim named Sha’bān. His incredible saga is just the opening act in a hidden history bursting with renegade priests, pirate queens, and thousands of Europeans who swapped their crosses for crescents, finding fortune, faith, and a new identity in the vibrant cities of early modern Algiers, Tunis, and Tripoli. This book dives into the shocking, dramatic, and often deliberately erased stories of these converts, unpacking how they were vilified as monstrous “renegades” on the European stage, demonized in wild captivity tales, and immortalized in sensational art—all to fuel a propaganda war that shaped the West’s fear and fascination with Islam for centuries. It’s a tale of radical personal transformation, epic cultural clash, and the ultimate rebellion: choosing who you are in a world that wants you to stay in your lane.
“If you enjoy uncovering these hidden historical narratives, a short review on Amazon would mean the world to me. It helps independent researchers like me reach more history lovers!
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Author Bio:
Kerbach Belkacem is a Lecturer at Larbi Ben M’hidi University of Oum El Bouaghi, Algeria.
His research focuses on Modern and Contemporary Algerian History, particularly the Ottoman period, captivity, and Euro-Maghrebi relations.
He has published over 40 scholarly works and accumulated more than 65,000 reads on ResearchGate. His studies explore topics such as European captives in Algeria, women captives in Europe, and inter-Mediterranean diplomacy.
In addition to his academic work, Belkacem is a short story writer and novelist, blending historical depth with human reflection. His fiction often addresses identity, memory, and social change, merging academic rigor with creative storytelling.