Draft:Nabil Matar

Nabil Matar Nabil I. Matar is a prominent scholar and historian specializing in the interactions between early modern Europe and the Islamic Mediterranean. His work has been foundational in the study of Euro-Islamic relations, with a focus on topics such as captivity literature, travel narratives, and cross-cultural exchanges. He currently serves as the Samuel Russell Chair in the Humanities at the University of Minnesota, where he is also a Presidential Professor within the English and History departments.

Early Life and Education Nabil Matar is a Palestinian was born in Lebanon, where he attended the American University of Beirut, earning his BA with distinction in 1971 and an MA in 1972 in English Literature. He later completed his PhD in 1976 at Emmanuel College, University of Cambridge. His dissertation, titled "The Individual and the Unity of Man in the Writings of Thomas Traherne," focused on English religious literature, marking the beginning of his lifelong interest in religious and cultural intersections.

Academic Career Matar began his academic career as an Assistant Professor of English at the University of Jordan from 1975 to 1977. He then taught at the American University of Beirut as an Assistant and Associate Professor of English and Civilization Sequence until 1986. After moving to the United States in 1986, he joined the Florida Institute of Technology, where he rose from Associate Professor to Department Head of the Humanities, a role he held from 1997 to 2007. In 2007, he joined the University of Minnesota as a Professor of English and Adjunct Professor of History and Religious Studies, and was later awarded the Samuel Russell Chair in the Humanities in 2017.

Research Focus Dr. Matar’s research primarily focuses on early modern Christian-Muslim relations, especially how Europeans and the Islamic world perceived each other between the 16th and 18th centuries. His studies cover the Mediterranean captivity experience, religious polemics, travel literature, and how each side’s perception influenced political and cultural interactions.

His work on the Euro-Islamic relationship has contributed significantly to shifting perspectives in historical and literary scholarship. His research provides insight into the lives of European captives in The Maghreb (North Africa) and Middle Eastern travelers in Europe and the "New World", exploring themes of captivity, conversion, and cross-cultural communication.

Major Publications Dr. Matar is the author of several highly regarded books, many of which have been translated into Arabic and Turkish. His publications are typically grouped into trilogies, focusing on themes of Islam in Britain and the Arab-European encounter:

Islam in Britain, 1558-1685 (Cambridge UP, 1998) - This work explores the complex religious and political relationships between Britain and the Islamic world during the early modern period, detailing how Islam influenced British society and vice versa. Turks, Moors, and Englishmen in the Age of Discovery (Columbia UP, 1999) - This book delves into the interactions between Englishmen and the Islamic world, particularly focusing on how the English perceived Turks and Moors. Britain and Barbary, 1589-1689 (University Press of Florida, 2005) - In this work, Matar examines British encounters with the Barbary states and their impacts on trade, diplomacy, and culture. His second trilogy examines the Arab perspective on Europe and early modern cross-cultural exchanges: 4. In the Lands of the Christians: Arabic Travel Writing in the Seventeenth Century (Routledge, 2003) - This book offers translations of Arabic texts reflecting Arab travelers’ impressions of Christian Europe. 5. Europe through Arab Eyes, 1578-1727 (Columbia UP, 2009) - This work presents a collection of writings that reveal how Arabs perceived Europe during this period. 6. An Arab Ambassador in the Mediterranean World (1779-1787) (Routledge, 2015) - A translation and analysis of the writings of Ahmad al-Ghazzal, an ambassador from Morocco to Spain and the Ottoman Empire, which sheds light on diplomatic relations.

Other notable works include:

British Captives in the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, 1563-1760 (Brill, 2014) The United States through Arab Eyes: Anthology of Writings from Early Emigrants (1876-1914) (Edinburgh UP, 2018) - A selection of writings from early Arab immigrants in the United States, translated and introduced by Matar. Honors and Awards Matar has received numerous prestigious awards throughout his career. Notable recognitions include:

- Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences Award (2017) - Awarded for seminal contributions to comparative literature, history, and religion. - Building Bridges Award (2012) - Presented by the Association of Muslim Social Scientists and the -Alwaleed bin Talal Centre for Islamic Studies at the University of Cambridge in recognition of his work fostering understanding between Islamic and Western civilizations​. - Scholar of the College, College of Liberal Arts, University of Minnesota (2011).

Selected Lectures and Keynotes Dr. Matar is a respected speaker and has given numerous keynote and public lectures at esteemed institutions worldwide. Some notable presentations include:

The Erasmus Lecture at the University of Toronto, "Protestant and Catholic Polemic in the Arab East, 1698-1798" (2020) The William F. Church Memorial Lecture at Brown University, "Mediterranean Captivity through Arab Eyes, 1517-1798" (2018) The Farhat J. Ziadeh Distinguished Lecture in Arab and Islamic Studies at the University of Washington, "The United States through Arab Eyes: 1876-1914" (2018) The Josephine Waters Bennett Lecture, Renaissance Society of America, "The Protestant Reformation through Arab Eyes: 1517-1798" (2018). Professional Activities Beyond teaching and research, Matar has contributed to the academic community through various initiatives:

Faculty Liaison for the Digital Islamic Studies Curriculum, University of Michigan (2015-2018) Co-Executive Editor of the Journal of Early Modern History (2013-2018)​.

Courses Taught Dr. Matar has taught a wide range of courses across English, History, and Religious Studies, reflecting his interdisciplinary expertise:

The Metaphysical Poets British Captives in the Mediterranean Introduction to Islamic Civilization: the Arabic Tradition Christ in Islamic Thought Imaginary Travelers: from Odysseus to Robinson Crusoe Captives: from the Mediterranean to the Caribbean The 'Mediterranean' World: 1598-1798. Selected Conference Papers Matar has also been active in presenting conference papers, discussing topics such as "Resisting Christian Conversion" at The Newberry Library (2017) and "Paradise Lost as an Islamic Epic" at the Modern Language Association (MLA) conference (2015). His contributions to these discussions continue to enrich understanding in areas of religious and cultural interactions.