The tall tales of medieval pilgrims and the incitements of crusading preachers contributed their share to the hatred of Islam nurtured in most Christian hearts during the Middle Ages. Ridiculous legends grew up in the West relating to Mohammed, the stock in trade of preachers, who were always willing to inform their listeners about the origin of the Prophet and the nature of Islam. Pious Christians were usually assured that Mohammed had come to a bad end. Contents of this study: Early legends and prophecies; Christian hopes for the undoing of Islam; Bartholomaeus Georgievicz and the “Red Apple”; and Translations of the Koran and Increasing Tolerance of Islam. Illustrations.
