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Al-Andalus: A Definition in World History – Challenges and Opportunities of a Multifaceted Legacy
Author: Dr. Fatima El-Khoury, Professor of Medieval History, University of Oxford. Dr. El-Khoury is a leading expert on the Islamic world in the medieval period, with publications focusing on cross-cultural exchange and the social history of Al-Andalus.
Keywords: al-Andalus definition world history, Islamic Spain, Moorish Spain, Andalusian culture, Reconquista, cross-cultural exchange, medieval history, Iberian Peninsula.
Introduction:
The term "Al-Andalus" evokes a rich and complex tapestry of history, culture, and intellectual achievement. Understanding its definition within the broader context of world history requires navigating a nuanced landscape of competing narratives and historical interpretations. This article aims to provide a comprehensive exploration of "al-Andalus definition world history," addressing both the opportunities and challenges inherent in studying this pivotal period. We will examine its geographical boundaries, its temporal framework, and the diverse cultural influences that shaped its unique identity. Furthermore, we will discuss the ongoing scholarly debates surrounding Al-Andalus and its lasting legacy on the Iberian Peninsula and beyond.
Defining Al-Andalus: Geographical and Temporal Boundaries
The precise definition of "al-Andalus definition world history" presents an immediate challenge. Geographically, it refers to the Iberian Peninsula’s territory under Muslim rule, beginning with the Umayyad conquest of 711 CE and lasting until the fall of Granada in 1492 CE. However, the extent of this control varied over the centuries. At its zenith, Al-Andalus encompassed almost the entire Iberian Peninsula, while during periods of fragmentation, its boundaries shrunk considerably. This fluidity in geographical scope needs to be considered when approaching any definition of al-Andalus.
Temporally, defining Al-Andalus requires acknowledging its multifaceted history. The period from 711 to 1492 CE witnessed significant shifts in political power, from the initial Umayyad Caliphate, through the reign of various taifas (independent kingdoms), the Almoravid and Almohad dynasties, and ultimately, the gradual Christian Reconquista. Each phase brought unique cultural and societal transformations, making a singular definition challenging.
Cultural Synthesis and Intellectual Flourishing:
One of the most significant aspects of "al-Andalus definition world history" is its role as a center for cross-cultural exchange. The interaction between Muslim, Jewish, and Christian populations resulted in a unique cultural synthesis. This period witnessed remarkable advancements in various fields:
Science and Philosophy: Al-Andalus became a hub for intellectual activity, translating classical Greek texts into Arabic and contributing significantly to the development of mathematics, astronomy, and medicine. Scholars like Averroes (Ibn Rushd) played a crucial role in transmitting classical knowledge to Europe.
Arts and Architecture: The architectural marvels of the period, such as the Mezquita-Cathedral of Córdoba and the Alhambra in Granada, exemplify the sophisticated aesthetic blending of different traditions. Similarly, Andalusian music and literature reflected this cultural fusion.
Religious Tolerance (with caveats): While periods of religious tolerance existed, it's crucial to acknowledge that the reality was often more complex and involved hierarchies and instances of persecution. The system of dhimmi status for non-Muslims, while offering a degree of legal protection, also imposed limitations and taxes.
The Reconquista and its Impact:
The gradual Christian Reconquista, spanning centuries, profoundly impacted "al-Andalus definition world history." This process involved a series of battles and political maneuvering that ultimately led to the expulsion of the Muslim rulers. The Reconquista's legacy remains a subject of considerable debate, with discussions focusing on themes of religious conflict, territorial expansion, and the cultural consequences of this transformative period.
Challenges in Defining Al-Andalus:
The challenges in defining al-Andalus stem from several factors:
Competing Narratives: Historians have often approached Al-Andalus through different lenses, reflecting their own cultural backgrounds and perspectives. This has resulted in competing narratives that emphasize either the Muslim contribution, the Jewish experience, or the Christian Reconquista, often neglecting the complexities of the interactions between these groups.
Source Material Bias: The available historical sources are often biased, reflecting the perspectives of the dominant groups at specific times. Understanding the limitations of these sources is crucial for a balanced interpretation.
Modern Political Interpretations: The legacy of Al-Andalus continues to be a topic of political debate, with certain interpretations being used to support nationalistic or religious agendas. It is essential to approach this history critically, separating historical fact from contemporary political narratives.
Opportunities for Understanding Al-Andalus:
Despite the challenges, studying "al-Andalus definition world history" offers numerous opportunities:
Understanding Cross-Cultural Exchange: Al-Andalus provides a unique case study for examining the dynamics of cross-cultural interaction and the potential for cultural synthesis. Understanding this period helps us appreciate the complexities of multicultural societies.
Re-evaluating Historical Narratives: A critical examination of existing narratives allows for a more nuanced understanding of the period, challenging simplistic interpretations and embracing the complexity of the interactions between different religious and cultural groups.
Promoting Interfaith Dialogue: Studying Al-Andalus can contribute to contemporary interfaith dialogue by highlighting the historical instances of both cooperation and conflict between different religious communities.
Conclusion:
Defining "al-Andalus definition world history" requires a nuanced and multifaceted approach. By acknowledging the geographical and temporal complexities, the cultural synthesis, the impact of the Reconquista, and the challenges inherent in interpreting historical sources, we can develop a more comprehensive understanding of this significant period. The study of Al-Andalus offers valuable insights into cross-cultural exchange, the dynamics of multicultural societies, and the enduring impact of historical events on contemporary identities. Further research and critical engagement with this rich historical period will continue to deepen our understanding of its multifaceted legacy.
FAQs:
1. What were the main achievements of Al-Andalus in science and philosophy? Al-Andalus witnessed significant advancements in mathematics, astronomy, medicine, and philosophy, preserving and translating classical Greek texts, and contributing original scholarship. Figures like Averroes significantly impacted European thought.
2. How did the different religious communities interact in Al-Andalus? The interaction was complex, varying over time and location. Periods of relative tolerance existed alongside periods of tension and conflict. The dhimmi system defined the legal status of non-Muslims.
3. What was the impact of the Reconquista on the culture of Al-Andalus? The Reconquista led to the gradual decline of Muslim rule and a significant shift in cultural dominance. It resulted in the expulsion of many Muslims and Jews, profoundly altering the cultural landscape of the Iberian Peninsula.
4. What are some of the architectural marvels of Al-Andalus? The Mezquita-Cathedral of Córdoba, the Alhambra in Granada, and the Giralda in Seville are among the most iconic examples of Al-Andalus architecture, showcasing a blend of Islamic and other influences.
5. How did Al-Andalus contribute to the transmission of knowledge to Europe? Al-Andalus served as a bridge between the Islamic world and Europe, translating and preserving classical texts and fostering intellectual exchange that significantly impacted European intellectual and scientific development.
6. What is the significance of the fall of Granada in 1492? The fall of Granada marked the end of Muslim rule in Iberia, concluding centuries of multifaceted interactions between diverse cultures and religions on the Iberian Peninsula.
7. How does the study of Al-Andalus inform contemporary discussions of multiculturalism? Al-Andalus offers a valuable case study for understanding the complexities of multicultural societies, examining instances of both successful coexistence and conflict. Its legacy raises questions about integration, tolerance, and the challenges of building inclusive societies.
8. What are some of the primary sources used to study Al-Andalus? These include chronicles written by both Muslim and Christian authors, legal texts, poetry, and architectural remains. It's crucial to consider the potential biases inherent in these sources.
9. What are some of the ongoing debates surrounding the interpretation of Al-Andalus? Debates continue regarding the extent of religious tolerance, the impact of the Reconquista, the nature of cultural exchange, and the use of Al-Andalus's history in contemporary political narratives.
Related Articles:
1. The Umayyad Caliphate in Spain: A Foundation for Al-Andalus: This article explores the establishment of Muslim rule in Iberia and the initial development of Al-Andalus under the Umayyads.
2. Averroes and the Transmission of Knowledge: Al-Andalus's Intellectual Legacy: This article focuses on the role of Averroes and other scholars in translating and transmitting classical knowledge from the Islamic world to Europe.
3. The Taifa Kingdoms: Fragmentation and Cultural Flourishing in Al-Andalus: An examination of the period of fragmented rule in Al-Andalus and its impact on cultural and political dynamics.
4. The Almoravid and Almohad Dynasties: Reunification and Cultural Transformations: This article focuses on the two North African dynasties that briefly reunified Al-Andalus and their impact on its culture and society.
5. The Alhambra: A Reflection of Culture and Power in Al-Andalus: An in-depth analysis of the Alhambra Palace as a symbol of Al-Andalus’s architectural and cultural achievements.
6. The Jewish Community in Al-Andalus: A History of Coexistence and Persecution: This article investigates the experience of the Jewish community in Al-Andalus, exploring both periods of flourishing and persecution.
7. The Reconquista: A Multifaceted Process of Territorial and Cultural Change: A broader examination of the Reconquista, its various phases, and its impact on the Iberian Peninsula.
8. The Legacy of Al-Andalus in Spanish Culture and Identity: This article examines the lasting influence of Al-Andalus on various aspects of Spanish culture and national identity.
9. Comparative Studies: Al-Andalus and other Medieval Islamic Societies: This article would explore the similarities and differences between Al-Andalus and other contemporary Islamic societies, highlighting its unique features.
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP). OUP is a renowned academic publisher with a long-standing reputation for publishing high-quality scholarly works in history and related fields.
Editor: Dr. Javier Hernandez, Professor of Islamic History, University of Barcelona. Dr. Hernandez possesses extensive expertise in the history of Al-Andalus and related fields.
| al andalus definition world history: Andalus and Sefarad Sarah Stroumsa, 2019-10-15 An integrative approach to Jewish and Muslim philosophy in al-Andalus Al-Andalus, the Iberian territory ruled by Islam from the eighth to the fifteenth centuries, was home to a flourishing philosophical culture among Muslims and the Jews who lived in their midst. Andalusians spoke proudly of the region's excellence, and indeed it engendered celebrated thinkers such as Maimonides and Averroes. Sarah Stroumsa offers an integrative new approach to Jewish and Muslim philosophy in al-Andalus, where the cultural commonality of the Islamicate world allowed scholars from diverse religious backgrounds to engage in the same philosophical pursuits. Stroumsa traces the development of philosophy in Muslim Iberia from its introduction to the region to the diverse forms it took over time, from Aristotelianism and Neoplatonism to rational theology and mystical philosophy. She sheds light on the way the politics of the day, including the struggles with the Christians to the north of the peninsula and the Fāṭimids in North Africa, influenced philosophy in al-Andalus yet affected its development among the two religious communities in different ways. While acknowledging the dissimilar social status of Muslims and members of the religious minorities, Andalus and Sefarad highlights the common ground that united philosophers, providing new perspective on the development of philosophy in Islamic Spain. |
| al andalus definition world history: Looking Back at Al-Andalus Alexander E. Elinson, 2009 Looking Back at al-Andalus focuses on Arabic and Hebrew Literature that expresses the loss of al-Andalus from multiple vantage points. In doing so, this book examines the definition of al-Andalusa (TM) literary borders, the reconstruction of which navigates between traditional generic formulations and actual political, military and cultural challenges. By looking at a variety of genres, the book shows that literature aiming to recall and define al-Andalus expresses a series of symbolic literary objects more than a geographic and political entity fixed in a single time and place. Looking Back at al-Andalus offers a unique examination into the role of memory, language, and subjectivity in presenting a series of interpretations of what al-Andalus represented to different writers at different historical-cultural moments. |
| al andalus definition world history: The Myth of the Andalusian Paradise Dario Fernandez-Morera, 2023-07-11 A finalist for World Magazine's Book of the Year! Scholars, journalists, and even politicians uphold Muslim-ruled medieval Spain—al-Andalus—as a multicultural paradise, a place where Muslims, Christians, and Jews lived in harmony. There is only one problem with this widely accepted account: it is a myth. In this groundbreaking book, Northwestern University scholar Darío Fernández-Morera tells the full story of Islamic Spain. The Myth of the Andalusian Paradise shines light on hidden history by drawing on an abundance of primary sources that scholars have ignored, as well as archaeological evidence only recently unearthed. This supposed beacon of peaceful coexistence began, of course, with the Islamic Caliphate's conquest of Spain. Far from a land of religious tolerance, Islamic Spain was marked by religious and therefore cultural repression in all areas of life and the marginalization of Christians and other groups—all this in the service of social control by autocratic rulers and a class of religious authorities. The Myth of the Andalusian Paradise provides a desperately needed reassessment of medieval Spain. As professors, politicians, and pundits continue to celebrate Islamic Spain for its multiculturalism and diversity, Fernández-Morera sets the historical record straight—showing that a politically useful myth is a myth nonetheless. |
| al andalus definition world history: Islam, Authoritarianism, and Underdevelopment Ahmet T. Kuru, 2019-08 Analyzes Muslim countries' contemporary problems, particularly violence, authoritarianism, and underdevelopment, comparing their historical levels of development with Western Europe. |
| al andalus definition world history: Islamisation A. C. S. Peacock, 2017-03-08 The spread of Islam and the process of Islamisation (meaning both conversion to Islam and the adoption of Muslim culture) is explored in the twenty-four chapters of this volume. Taking a comparative perspective, both the historical trajectory of Islamisation and the methodological problems in its study are addressed, with coverage moving from Africa to China and from the seventh century to the start of the colonial period in 1800. Key questions are addressed. What is meant by Islamisation? How far was the spread of Islam as a religion bound up with the spread of Muslim culture? To what extent are Islamisation and conversion parallel processes? How is Islamisation connected to Arabisation? What role do vernacular Muslim languages play in the promotion of Muslim culture? The broad, comparative perspective allows readers to develop a thorough understanding of the process of Islamisation over eleven centuries of its history. |
| al andalus definition world history: Al-Andalus Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York, N.Y.), Patronato de la Alhambra (Granada, Spain), 1992 From 711 when they arrived on the Iberian Peninsula until 1492 when scholars contribute a wide-ranging series of essays and catalogue entries which are fully companion to the 373 illustrations (324 in color) of the spectacular art and architecture of the nearly vanished culture. 91/2x121/2 they were expelled by Ferdinand and Isabella, the Muslims were a powerful force in al-Andalus, as they called the Iberian lands they controlled. This awe-inspiring volume, which accompanies a major exhibition presented at the Alhambra in Granada and The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, is devoted to the little-known artistic legacy of Islamic Spain, revealing the value of these arts as part of an autonomous culture and also as a presence with deep significance for both Europe and the Islamic world. Twenty-four international Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR |
| al andalus definition world history: The Abrahamic Religions Charles L. Cohen, 2020 Connected by their veneration of the One God proclaimed by Abraham, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam share much beyond their origins in the ancient Israel of the Old Testament. This Very Short Introduction explores the intertwined histories of these monotheistic religions, from the emergence of Christianity and Islam to the violence of the Crusades and the cultural exchanges of al-Andalus. |
| al andalus definition world history: The Káfirs of the Hindu-Kush Sir George Scott Robertson, 1896 Kafiristan, or The Land of the Infidels, was a region of eastern Afghanistan where the inhabitants had retained their traditional pagan culture and religion and rejected conversion to Islam. The Káfirs of the Hindu-Kush is a detailed ethnographic account of the Kafirs, written by George Scott Robertson (1852-1916), a British administrator in India. With the approval of the government of India, Robertson made a preliminary visit to Kafiristan in October 1889, and then lived among the Kafirs for almost a year, from October 1890 to September 1891. Robertson describes his journey from Chitral (in present-day Pakistan) to Kafiristan and the difficulties he encountered in traveling about the country and in gaining information about the Kafir culture and religion. The latter, he writes, is a somewhat low form of idolatry, with an admixture of ancestor-worship and some traces of fire-worship also. The gods and goddesses are numerous, and of varying degrees of importance or popularity. Robertson describes religious practices and ceremonies, the tribal and clan structure of Kafir society, the role of slavery, the different villages in the region, and everyday life and social customs, including dress, diet, festivals, sport, the role of women in society, and much else that he observed first-hand. The book is illustrated with drawings, and it concludes with a large fold-out topographical map, which shows the author's route in Kafiristan. In 1896 the ruler of Afghanistan, Amir 'Abd al-Rahman Khan (reigned 1880-1901), conquered the area and brought it under Afghan control. The Kafirs became Muslims and in 1906 the region was renamed Nuristan, meaning the Land of Light, a reference to the enlightenment brought by Islam. |
| al andalus definition world history: The Medieval Spains Bernard F. Reilly, 1993-06-03 Tracing the political evolution of the Iberian peninsula from late Roman imperial provinces to monarchies of the mid-fifteenth century, essays on the significant periods of medieval Spain sketch the major political, economic, social and intellectual features of their times. |
| al andalus definition world history: Spain, a Global History Luis Francisco Martinez Montes, 2018-11-12 From the late fifteenth to the nineteenth centuries, the Hispanic Monarchy was one of the largest and most diverse political communities known in history. At its apogee, it stretched from the Castilian plateau to the high peaks of the Andes; from the cosmopolitan cities of Seville, Naples, or Mexico City to Santa Fe and San Francisco; from Brussels to Buenos Aires and from Milan to Manila. During those centuries, Spain left its imprint across vast continents and distant oceans contributing in no minor way to the emergence of our globalised era. This was true not only in an economic sense-the Hispano-American silver peso transported across the Atlantic and the Pacific by the Spanish fleets was arguably the first global currency, thus facilitating the creation of a world economic system-but intellectually and artistically as well. The most extraordinary cultural exchanges took place in practically every corner of the Hispanic world, no matter how distant from the metropolis. At various times a descendant of the Aztec nobility was translating a Baroque play into Nahuatl to the delight of an Amerindian and mixed audience in the market of Tlatelolco; an Andalusian Dominican priest was writing the first Western grammar of the Chinese language in Fuzhou, a Chinese city that enjoyed a trade monopoly with the Spanish Philippines; a Franciscan friar was composing a piece of polyphonic music with lyrics in Quechua to be played in a church decorated with Moorish-style ceilings in a Peruvian valley; or a multi-ethnic team of Amerindian and Spanish naturalists was describing in Latin, Spanish and local vernacular languages thousands of medicinal plants, animals and minerals previously unknown to the West. And, most probably, at the same time that one of those exchanges were happening, the members of the School of Salamanca were laying the foundations of modern international law or formulating some of the first modern theories of price, value and money, Cervantes was writing Don Quixote, Velázquez was painting Las Meninas, or Goya was exposing both the dark and bright sides of the European Enlightenment. Actually, whenever we contemplate the galleries devoted to Velázquez, El Greco, Zurbarán, Murillo or Goya in the Prado Museum in Madrid; when we visit the National Palace in Mexico City, a mission in California, a Jesuit church in Rome or the Intramuros quarter in Manila; or when we hear Spanish being spoken in a myriad of accents in the streets of San Francisco, New Orleans or Manhattan we are experiencing some of the past and present fruits of an always vibrant and still expanding cultural community. As the reader can infer by now, this book is about how Spain and the larger Hispanic world have contributed to world history and in particular to the history of civilisation, not only at the zenith of the Hispanic Monarchy but throughout a much longer span of time. |
| al andalus definition world history: Cultural Symbiosis in Al-Andalus , 2004 |
| al andalus definition world history: Granada Radwa Ashour, 2003-10-01 Radwa Ashour skillfully weaves a history of Granadan rule and an Arabic world into a novel that evokes cultural loss and the disappearance of a vanquished population. The novel follows the family of Abu Jaafar the bookbinder—his wife, widowed daughter-in-law, her two children, and his two apprentices—as they witness Christopher Columbus and his entourage in a triumphant parade featuring exotic plants, animals, human captives from the New World. Embedded in the narrative is the preparation for the marriage of Saad, one of the apprentices, and Saleema, Abu Jaafar's granddaughter—which is elegantly revealed in a number of parallel scenes. As the new rulers of Granada confiscate books and officials burn the collected volumes, Abu Jaafur quietly moves his rich library out of town. Persecuted Muslims fight to form an independent government, but increasing economic and cultural pressures on the Arabs of Spain and Christian rulers culminate in forcing Christian conversions and Muslim uprisings. A tale that is both vigorous and heartbreaking, this novel will appeal to general readers of Spanish and Arabic literature as well as anyone interested in Christian-Muslim relations. |
| al andalus definition world history: Beyond the Reconquista: New Directions in the History of Medieval Iberia (711-1085) , 2020-04-14 Beyond the Reconquista: New Directions in the History of Medieval Iberia (711-1085) offers an exciting series of essays by leading scholars in Hispanic Studies from across North America and Europe. At its heart is the Reconquista, without doubt the most important and enduring theme of Iberian historiography of the Middle Ages. The innovative studies collected herein, which treat a diverse array of subjects via forensic analyses of charters, chronicles and coins, shed new light on crucial aspects of medieval Iberian socio-economic, political and cultural history. The result is a collection of essays which marks a decisive and bold turning of the page in Iberian medieval studies, as the reality and ideal of Reconquest come under hitherto unparalleled scrutiny. Contributors are Graham Barrett, Jeffrey Bowman, Alberto Canto, Nicola Clarke, Wendy Davies, Julio Escalona, Jonathan Jarrett, Eduardo Manzano Moreno, Iñaki Martín Viso and Lucy K. Pick. See inside the book. |
| al andalus definition world history: The Ornament of the World Maria Rosa Menocal, 2009-11-29 This classic bestseller — the inspiration for the PBS series — is an illuminating and even inspiring portrait of medieval Spain that explores the golden age when Muslims, Jews, and Christians lived together in an atmosphere of tolerance (Los Angeles Times). This enthralling history, widely hailed as a revelation of a lost golden age, brings to vivid life the rich and thriving culture of medieval Spain, where for more than seven centuries Muslims, Jews, and Christians lived together in an atmosphere of tolerance, and where literature, science, and the arts flourished. It is no exaggeration to say that what we presumptuously call 'Western' culture is owed in large measure to the Andalusian enlightenment...This book partly restores a world we have lost. —Christopher Hitchens, The Nation |
| al andalus definition world history: New Voices of Muslim North-African Migrants in Europe Cristián H. Ricci, 2019-08-26 New Voices of Muslim North-African Migrants in Europe captures the experience in writing of a fast growing number of individuals belonging to migrant communities in Europe. The book follows attempts to transform postcolonial literary studies into a comparative, translingual, and supranational project. Cristián H. Ricci frames Moroccan literature written in European languages within the ampler context of borderland studies. The author addresses the realm of a literature that has been practically absent from the field of postcolonial literary studies (i.e. Neerlandophone or Gay Muslim literature). The book also converses with other minor literatures and theories from Sub-Saharan Africa, as well as Asians and Latino/as in the Americas that combine histories of colonization, labor migration, and enforced exile. |
| al andalus definition world history: Freethinkers of Medieval Islam Sarah Stroumsa, 1999-01-01 This book studies the phenomenon of freethinking in medieval Islam, as exemplified in the figures of Ibn al-R wand and Ab Bakr al-R z . It reconstructs their thought and analyzes the relations of the phenomenon to Islamic prophetology and its repercussions in Islamic thought. |
| al andalus definition world history: The Cambridge History of Judaism: Volume 2, The Hellenistic Age William David Davies, 1984 Vol. 4 covers the late Roman period to the rise of Islam. Focuses especially on the growth and development of rabbinic Judaism and of the major classical rabbinic sources such as the Mishnah, Jerusalem Talmud, Babylonian Talmud and various Midrashic collections. |
| al andalus definition world history: Feminist Edges of the Qur'an Aysha A. Hidayatullah, 2014 Aysha A. Hidayatullah offers the first comprehensive examination of contemporary feminist Qur'anic interpretation, exploring its dynamic challenges to Islamic tradition and contemporary Muslim views of the Qur'an. |
| al andalus definition world history: Grounded Identities Steve Tamari, 2019 Grounded Identities: Territory and Belonging in the Medieval and Early Modern Middle East and Mediterranean explores attachment to lands in the pre-modern Islamicate world and the theoretical and long-term implications of land-based senses of belonging. |
| al andalus definition world history: Articulating the Ḥijāba Mariam Rosser-Owen, 2021 In Articulating the Ḥijāba, Mariam Rosser-Owen analyses for the first time the artistic and cultural patronage of the 'Amirid regents of the last Cordoban Umayyad caliph, Hisham II, a period rarely covered in the historiography of al-Andalus. |
| al andalus definition world history: Ibn Khaldun Allen James Fromherz, 2011-09-30 A biography of Ibn Khaldun (1332-1406), famous historian, scholar, theologian and statesman. |
| al andalus definition world history: The Bird King G. Willow Wilson, 2019-03-12 One of NPR’s 50 Best Science Fiction and Fantasy Books of the Decade: A fifteenth-century palace mapmaker must hide his powers in the time of the Inquisition . . . Award-winning author G. Willow Wilson’s debut novel Alif the Unseen was an NPR and Washington Post Best Book of the Year and established her as a vital American Muslim literary voice. Now she delivers The Bird King, an epic journey set during the reign of the last sultan in the Iberian peninsula at the height of the Spanish Inquisition. Fatima is a concubine in the royal court of Granada, the last emirate of Muslim Spain. Her dearest friend, Hassan, the palace mapmaker and the one man who doesn’t leer at her with desire, has a secret—he can draw maps of places he’s never seen and bend the shape of reality. When representatives of the newly formed Spanish monarchy arrive to negotiate the sultan’s surrender, Fatima befriends one of the women, not realizing that she will see Hassan’s gift as sorcery and a threat to Christian Spanish rule. With their freedoms at stake, what will Fatima risk to save Hassan and escape the palace walls? As the two traverse Spain with the help of a clever jinn to find safety, The Bird King asks us to consider what love is and the price of freedom at a time when the West and the Muslim world were not yet separate. “Wilson has a deft hand with myth and with magic, and the kind of smart, honest writing mind that knits together and bridges cultures and people.” —Neil Gaiman, author of Norse Mythology “A triumph . . . one of the best fantasy writers working today.” —BookPage “A treasure-house of a novel, thrilling, tender, funny, and achingly gorgeous. I loved it.” —Lev Grossman, author of the Magicians trilogy |
| al andalus definition world history: The Literature of Al-Andalus María Rosa Menocal, 2006-11-02 The Literature of Al-Andalus is an exploration of the culture of Iberia, present-day Spain and Portugal, during the period when it was an Islamic, mostly Arabic-speaking territory, from the eighth to the thirteenth century, and in the centuries following the Christian conquest when Arabic continued to be widely used. The volume embraces many other related spheres of Arabic culture including philosophy, art, architecture and music. It also extends the subject to other literatures - especially Hebrew and Romance literatures - that burgeoned alongside Arabic and created the distinctive hybrid culture of medieval Iberia. Edited by an Arabist, an Hebraist and a Romance scholar, with individual chapters compiled by a team of the world's leading experts of Islamic Iberia, Sicily and related cultures, this is a truly interdisciplinary and comparative work which offers a interesting approach to the field. |
| al andalus definition world history: Caliphate Hugh Kennedy, 2016-10-11 From a preeminent scholar of Islamic history, the authoritative history of caliphates from their beginnings in the 7th century to the modern day In Caliphate, Islamic historian Hugh Kennedy dissects the idea of the caliphate and its history, and explores how it became used and abused today. Contrary to popular belief, there is no one enduring definition of a caliph; rather, the idea of the caliph has been the subject of constant debate and transformation over time. Kennedy offers a grand history of the caliphate since the beginning of Islam to its modern incarnations. Originating in the tumultuous years following the death of the Mohammad in 632, the caliphate, a politico-religious system, flourished in the great days of the Umayyads of Damascus and the Abbasids of Baghdad. From the seventh-century Orthodox caliphs to the nineteenth-century Ottomans, Kennedy explores the tolerant rule of Umar, recounts the traumatic murder of the caliph Uthman, dubbed a tyrant by many, and revels in the flourishing arts of the golden eras of Abbasid Baghdad and Moorish Andalucí Kennedy also examines the modern fate of the caliphate, unraveling the British political schemes to spur dissent against the Ottomans and the ominous efforts of Islamists, including ISIS, to reinvent the history of the caliphate for their own malevolent political ends. In exploring and explaining the great variety of caliphs who have ruled throughout the ages, Kennedy challenges the very narrow views of the caliphate propagated by extremist groups today. An authoritative new account of the dynasties of Arab leaders throughout the Islamic Golden Age, Caliphate traces the history-and misappropriations-of one of the world's most potent political ideas. |
| al andalus definition world history: Arabic Heritage in the Post-Abbasid Period Imed Nsiri, 2019-02-22 This book introduces the reader to Arabic heritage, with a particular focus on the post-Abbasid era up to the nineteenth century, often labelled a period of decadence (‘aṣr al-inḥiṭaṭ). It will be a valuable resource for students, as well as researchers and academics wanting to see the larger picture of this period. This book introduces the reader not only to the literature of this era, but also to the different aspects of the heritage of Arabic civilization. The volume comprises seven chapters covering a range of topics, including Arab history, language and identity, Arab-Islamic science, al-Andalus, political and religious movements, Arabic literature, and al-Nahda. |
| al andalus definition world history: History of International Relations Erik Ringmar, 2019-08-02 Existing textbooks on international relations treat history in a cursory fashion and perpetuate a Euro-centric perspective. This textbook pioneers a new approach by historicizing the material traditionally taught in International Relations courses, and by explicitly focusing on non-European cases, debates and issues. The volume is divided into three parts. The first part focuses on the international systems that traditionally existed in Europe, East Asia, pre-Columbian Central and South America, Africa and Polynesia. The second part discusses the ways in which these international systems were brought into contact with each other through the agency of Mongols in Central Asia, Arabs in the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean, Indic and Sinic societies in South East Asia, and the Europeans through their travels and colonial expansion. The concluding section concerns contemporary issues: the processes of decolonization, neo-colonialism and globalization – and their consequences on contemporary society. History of International Relations provides a unique textbook for undergraduate and graduate students of international relations, and anybody interested in international relations theory, history, and contemporary politics. |
| al andalus definition world history: Handbook of Contemporary Islam and Muslim Lives Ronald Lukens-Bull, Mark Woodward, 2021-08-25 This is a comprehensive handbook which for the first time provides a general yet detailed discussion of contemporary Islam and various aspects of Muslim lives. It offers a much needed tool for an introduction to the world of contemporary Muslim life and debate, and a link of continuity between the Muslim world and Muslims living and born in the West. The reader gains access to articles by leading scholars who observe phenomena in a post-9/11 context and from a global viewpoint. The topics have been carefully selected to provide the reader with both the necessary general view that a good handbook must offer while presenting details and information, as well as ethnographic examples, to inspire further research and interest. Indeed, each chapter will offer topical reading suggestions from which one can expand the material discussed in the chapter. The approach of the handbook is mainly social-anthropological, but attention is given to other disciplines like history, geography, political studies, as well as gender studies and cultural studies. |
| al andalus definition world history: The Fall of the Caliphate of Córdoba Scales, 1994-02-01 This book is a discussion of the complex events which surround the breakup of the Muslim Caliphate of Córdoba in the early eleventh century. The focus of the study concerns quite a short period of time: 1009-1031 A.D., although a wide-ranging investigation of the political structure of Muslim Spain is embarked on. A thorough narrative of the events is followed by separate discussions of some of the main groups involved in the civil wars, the Marwānids (the supporters of a legitimately-appointed Umayyad representative), the saqāliba (Slavs), the Berbers and the Christians of northern Spain. This book is able to fill the gap in our knowledge of this hitherto little-understood period of Spanish history and tackles important questions, such as the attitude towards the Berbers, tribal solidarity and the importance of land-reforms during the 10th century |
| al andalus definition world history: Islamic and Christian Spain in the Early Middle Ages Thomas Glick, 2005-11-01 This work represents a considerably revised edition of the first comparative history of Islamic and Christian Spain between A.D. 711 and 1250. It focuses on the differential development of agriculture and urbanization in the Islamic and Christian territories and the flow of information and techniques between them. |
| al andalus definition world history: Approaches to the Study of Pre-Modern Arabic Anthologies Nadia Maria El Cheikh, Bilal Orfali, 2021-03-01 The aim of this volume is to raise and discuss questions about the different approaches to the study of pre-modern Arabic anthologies from the perspectives of philology, religion, history, geography, and literature. |
| al andalus definition world history: The World in a Book Elias Muhanna, 2019-05-28 Based on the author's dissertation (doctoral)-- Harvard University, 2012. |
| al andalus definition world history: Spanish Islam Reinhart Dozy, 2017-01-12 Originally published in 1913, this book contains the English translation of Reinhardt’s Dozy’s notable work, Histoire des Musalman’s d’Espagne. First published in 1861, this comprehensive work chronicles the extensive history of Islam in Spain. The introduction by the translator provides a useful overview of Reinhardt’s Dozy’s life and career. This comprehensive work will be of interest to those studying the history of Islam and Spain. |
| al andalus definition world history: A Brief History of Islam in Europe Maurits Berger, 2014 A Brief History of Islam in Europe presents an overall presentation and discussion of developments ever since Islam appeared on the European stage thirteen centuries ago. |
| al andalus definition world history: The Arabic Role in Medieval Literary History Maria Rosa Menocal, María Rosa Menocal, 2010-08-03 Arabic culture was a central and shaping phenomenon in medieval Europe, yet its influence on medieval literature has been ignored or marginalized for the last two centuries. In this ground-breaking book, now returned to print with a new afterword by the author, María Rosa Menocal argues that major modifications of the medieval canon and its literary history are necessary. Menocal reviews the Arabic cultural presence in a variety of key settings, including the courts of William of Aquitaine and Frederick II, the universities in London, Paris, and Bologna, and Cluny under Peter the Venerable, and she examines how our perception of specific texts including the courtly love lyric and the works of Dante and Boccaccio would be altered by an acknowledgment of the Arabic cultural component. |
| al andalus definition world history: Historical Atlas of Islam Malise Ruthven, Azim Nanji, 2004 Chronicles the history of Islam from the birth of Mohammed to the independence of former Soviet Muslim States, covering a wide variety of themes, including philosophy, arts, and architecture. |
| al andalus definition world history: Armies of the Crusades Terence Wise, 1978-03-23 In the early crusades men of all ranks from all over Europe took the cross and went to fight Islam as volunteers. Some went out of religious fervour, others to escape the plagues and famine which were rife at the time, still others in search of land or a fortune in loot. Fighting alongside all of these were the armies raised in Outremer, the Holy Land itself. Together they waged a bloody religious war, the participants of which included such forces as the Knights Templar, the Teutonic Knights, and the Byzantine Army. |
| al andalus definition world history: The Cambridge World History of Slavery: Volume 2, AD 500-AD 1420 David Eltis, Keith R. Bradley, Craig Perry, Stanley L. Engerman, Paul Cartledge, David Richardson, 2021-08-12 In this volume, leading scholars provide essay-length coverage of slavery in a wide variety of medieval contexts around the globe. |
| al andalus definition world history: Muslim Spain and Portugal Hugh Kennedy, 2014-06-11 This is the first study in English of the political history of Muslim Spain and Portugal, based on Arab sources. It provides comprehensive coverage of events across the whole of the region from 711 to the fall of Granada in 1492. Up till now the history of this region has been badly neglected in comparison with studies of other states in medieval Europe. When considered at all, it has been largely written from Christian sources and seen in terms of the Christian Reconquest. Hugh Kennedy raises the profile of this important area, bringing the subject alive with vivid translations from Arab sources. This will be fascinating reading for historians of medieval Europe and for historians of the middle east drawing out the similarities and contrasts with other areas of the Muslim world. |
| al andalus definition world history: Traces of Ink Lucia Raggetti, 2021 Traces of Ink. Experiences of Philology and Replication is a collection of original papers exploring the textual and material aspects of inks and ink-making in a number of premodern cultures (Babylonia, the Graeco-Roman world, the Syriac milieu and the Arabo-Islamic tradition). The volume proposes a fresh and interdisciplinary approach to the study of technical traditions, in which new results can be achieved thanks to the close collaboration between philologists and scientists. Replication represents a crucial meeting point between these two parties: a properly edited text informs the experts in the laboratory who, in turn, may shed light on many aspects of the text by recreating the material reality behind it. Contributors are: Miriam Blanco Cesteros, Michele Cammarosano, Claudia Colini, Vincenzo Damiani, Sara Fani, Matteo Martelli, Ira Rabin, Lucia Raggetti, and Katja Weirauch-- |
| al andalus definition world history: Moorish Spain Richard Fletcher, 2015-10-22 Written in the same tradition as John Julius Norwich's engrossing accounts of Venice and Byzantium, Richard Fletcher's Moorish Spain entertains even as it enlightens. He tells the story of a vital period in Spanish history which transformed the culture and society, not only of Spain, but of the rest of Europe as well. Moorish influence transformed the architecture, art, literature and learning, and Fletcher combines this analysis with a crisp account of the wars, politics and sociological changes of the time. |
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