13-17 October 2010, Skopje, Macedonia, Vol. 1: 752 p. (English and Turkish), Vol. 2: 730 p. (Macedonian, Albanian and Serbian), Sources and Studies on
the History of Islamic Civilization Series nr. 32, IRCICA, Istanbul, 2015
This is a collection of the papers that were presented during the international congress on “Islamic Civilisation in the Balkans” held in the Macedonian
capitalSkopjein October2010.Thecongress,organizedin cooperation with the Macedonian AcademyofSciencesand Arts (MANU), was fourth in IRCICA’s
congress series that focus on the history andcultures of the Balkan region. The Skopje congress was accorded high patronage andopenedby H.E. Gjorge
Ivanov,President of the Republic Macedonia.President Ivanov alsoparticipatedin the congress in his capacity as an academician andpresentedapaper.
This State support and scholarly contribution extended to the congress underscored the importance attached to its objectives. The first volume contains
the papers that were presented in English or Turkish (39 papers) and the second volume, those presented in Macedonian, Albanian or Serbian (44 papers).
Located at crossroads between Europe and Western Asia, the Balkan peoples have been in contact with the Muslim world since at least the 8th century.
Various phenomena, including the long experience in trade between the two regions, helped fasten the expansion process, and enhance the notable
cultural role,of Islam in the Balkans.Therelationshipbetween the Muslim worldandthe Balkans has notonlybeen oneofencountersandexchangesbut
also one of coexistence. Research papers contributedto the congress addresseda wide range of topics highlightingthe multicultural relations specific to
the Balkan region.
IRCICA’s engagement in studies on the region in connection with the history of Islamic civilisation draws from the above aspects of the theme and also