Why was Islam called "Mohammedanism" In the 19th and 20th Century?

by Lespacer

Why wasn't it just called "Islam" at that time? Did the word "Islam" only appear recently in the western world?

I would really like to know how it got the name "Mohammedanism" and why they didn't just refer to it as "Islam" back then.

WelfOnTheShelf

Much more can always be said about this! But while waiting for further responses, I answered a similar question recently:

Why and when did Westerners stop to refer Muslims as Mohammedans?