The Myth of the
Andalusian Paradise:
Muslims, Christians, and Jews Under Islamic Rule in Medieval Spain
“The oft-repeated assertion that Islam “preserved” classical knowledge and then graciously passed it on to Europe is baseless. Ancient Greek texts and Greek culture were never “lost” to be somehow “recovered” and “transmitted” by Islamic scholars, as so many academic historians and journalists continue to write: these texts were always there, preserved and studied by the monks and lay scholars of the Greek Roman Empire and passed on to Europe and to the Islamic empire at various times.” ― Darío Fernández-Morera
This is an exceptional history that looks at the era of medieval Spain when the spread of the Islamic empire reigned. As suggested by the title of the book it is a different sort of history that uses detailed research and documentation to argue against a generally prevailing view that the rule of Islam in this era was one in which the conquered peoples were treated well.
While this is an atypical way to present history, it appears that the method used by the author was necessary to counteract the myths that have developed through incomplete and shoddy scholarship. With the level of documentation provided, this book provides a more balanced and authentic history of the medieval period of Spain under the control of the Islamic empire. Some aspects of the history that impressed me were the way the author described the details of controversy within the Christian and Jewish cultures. This approach helped make his overall case and demonstrated a more balanced approach than would have occurred if he had ignored uncomfortable issues.
Overall I appreciated the documentation and the balanced approach in this necessary antidote to reconsider and reconstruct a misleading history that can be reasonably described as mythology.
While this is an atypical way to present history, it appears that the method used by the author was necessary to counteract the myths that have developed through incomplete and shoddy scholarship. With the level of documentation provided, this book provides a more balanced and authentic history of the medieval period of Spain under the control of the Islamic empire. Some aspects of the history that impressed me were the way the author described the details of controversy within the Christian and Jewish cultures. This approach helped make his overall case and demonstrated a more balanced approach than would have occurred if he had ignored uncomfortable issues.
Overall I appreciated the documentation and the balanced approach in this necessary antidote to reconsider and reconstruct a misleading history that can be reasonably described as mythology.
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