Multicultural and Cross-Cultural Aspects of the Normans in Southern Italy, Sicily & North Africa

The Importance of Palermo

Thanks to the prior successes of political, social, and economic development in the city, Palermo became one of the most influential cities of the Middle Ages. The Muslim tolerance of the Jewish people allowed them to prosper and contribute the local economy of the city. According to sources, Palermo was believed to have competed and possibly surpassed other well-known influential cities at the time, such as Cairo in Egypt and Cordoba in Spain. Palermo also boasted a diverse population that encompassed above 100,000 people, making it one of the largest cities in the world at the time period. When the Normans usurped control of the city and formed the Kingdom of Sicily in 1130 CE, the influence and prestige of the city of Palermo continued to grow throughout the Mediterranean.
Aside from the strategic and economic benefits of the island, Palermo boomed as a hub for diversity and a practice of cultural and religious tolerance. The sociocultural blend of French, Norman, Italian, Lombard, Greek, Jewish, Berber, and Arab cultures helped inspire incredible feats of cultural, education, and architectural achievement for its time. Norman rule continued to encourage cross-cultural and multicultural elements that contributed to the benefit of the city. Over the next century, Palermo became a central hub for art, architecture, science, and scholarship from across the Mediterranean world. Thanks to Palermo's cultural and economic prosperity, the Kingdom of Sicily became one of the wealthiest states in Europe, especially when compared to other nations like their Norman counterparts in England.

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