The study of Arabic in Malta, 1632 to 1915

Abstract

The Christian world began to show interest in the study of the Arabic language after the Reformation, during the economic revival of the seventeenth century. The Ottoman Empire had become a major force, widespread and powerful as it was, dominating much of Eastern Europe and all Arab countries. The Eastern Mediterranean had been transformed into an Ottoman sea, dividing Europe. Once more the Cross was pitted against the Crescent. But in addition to the religious rivalry between East and West, political jealousy also fuelled this division. Sixteenth century western Europe felt threatened as the Ottoman Empire continually strengthened itself economically, religiously, and even militarily through the yeni çeri (Janissaries), Muslim converts from Christianity who became the elite military corps in the Islamic world. It was over such an empire that Siilcyman II Kanfmi (1520- 1566), known in the West as "the Magnificent", ruled during the Ottoman Golden Age. But by the beginning of the seventeenth century, the Ottoman Empire no longer controlled the world's political scene, owing largely to a disorganised central government and lack of discipline in its armies. The Christian world, on the other hand, was regaining its lost dominance. This can be attributed to several factors: (a) the discovery of America, (b) the agricultural revolution, (c) technological advances during the Age of Enlightenment, and ( d) the highly organised and centralised governments throughout Europe. The Ottoman Empire, realising its weaknesses, began to relinquish its political and economic hold first on the Arab states, then on Eastern Europe, until it finally shrank to what is known today as Turkey. The Arabs, enjoying their newly acquired freedom from the Turks, soon resumed trade with Christian Europe, a commerce which had long been prohibited. Christian merchants travelling to Arab countries were accompanied by self-proclaimed "missionaries". But while the merchants found the lingua franca quite suitable for their commercial needs on the shores of Arab countries, this language proved useless to the missionaries in the hinterland. Chiefly for this reason, the ecclesiastical authorities in Rome argued that if a college where missionaries could study Arabic were established, many difficulties would be solved, and the propagation of the Christian faith made easier. The Franciscan Fathers took the initiative to organise such a study of Arabic. On April 25, 1622, Tomasa Obicini (fl. 1630), a Franciscan from Novara, authorised by a decree from the Sacra Congregazione de Propaganda Fide, opened the college in Montario, Rome. Even Pope Urban VIII (1623-1644) showed interest in this project, and set up a college in Rome for the propagation of faith through missionaries. These, having first been trained at the colleges in Rome, were sent to various Muslim countries. But the Franciscans were already planning to establish other such centres outside Rome, and it was then that they expressed the desire to begin the study of Arabic in Malta.