Dates That Made History

1143 - The Translation of the Quran

When the Abbot of Cluny traveled to Spain in 1143 to commission a Latin translation of the Quran, he was not seeking dialogue, but rather to understand Islam in order to better combat it. The story of this first translation tells of encounter and resistance – far removed from the narratives of the "clash of civilizations" and Andalusian coexistence.