Im sorry about this broad title, but ill get more specific here.
I was talking to a friend about the Spread of Islam in europe, and he was telling me about how Islam is only spreading via immigration in the last half century.
Now, I know this to be false obviously, but do you guys have anything about the spread of Islam in Europe Pre-Modern Immigration?
I've done some research and found that Islam has been in Macediona and other Eastern European countries for ages. How long has Islam been in Western Europe?
Im sorry for such a broad question, I can't seem to clearly get my questoin out. Ill be happy to expand anything.
Thanks
Islam in Europe was there even before "Pre-Modern Immigration" Traders and sailors that were muslim used to sail into United Kingdom and West Europe also don't forget that European Colonial Empires (Spain , UK , France , Italy etc..) had interactions with the Muslims in Africa and Asia. You have white muslims before 50 years like Rowland Allanson and also there is a nice documentary about )Abdulla Quilliam Made by BBC divided into 3 parts in youtube he tried to make islam a stable religion in UK. Other European countries were most likely by slaves or traders before immigration or maybe even moving around their respective colonial realm.
Some other notable English Muslims that converted pre-Immigration era is Marmaduke Pickthall he is responsible for being a translator of Islam's Holy Book into English.
However I remember stumbling across about some commanders in the French or British Army converting into Islam however I don't take my word as I dont have evidence backing this up. Do not forget also that Muslims were at the doors of France in 732 (Battle of Tours) and in the doors of Austria from the other side by the Turks (Ottomans)