Prior accounts have portrayed Islamic Spain either as a paradise of enlightened tolerance, or as the site where civilisations clashed. Award-winning historian Brian A. Catlos taps a wide array of original sources to paint a more complex picture, showing how Muslims, Christians, and Jews together built a sophisticated civilisation that transformed the Western world, even as they waged relentless war against each other and amongst themselves. Religion was often the language of conflict, but seldom its cause--a lesson we would do well to learn in our own time.Kingdoms of Faith rewrites Spain's Islamic past from the ground up, evoking the cultural splendour of al-Andalus and the many forces that shaped it.
This is a revisionary study of Muslims living under Christian rule during the Spanish 'reconquest'. It looks beyond the obvious religious distinctions and delves into the subtleties of identity in the thirteenth-century Crown of Aragon, uncovering a social dynamic in which sectarian differences comprise only one of the many factors in the causal complex of political, economic and cultural reactions. Beginning with the final stage of independent Muslim rule in the Ebro valley region, the book traces the transformation of Islamic society into mudéjar society under Christian domination. This was a case of social evolution in which Muslims, far from being passive victims of foreign colonisation, took an active part in shaping their institutions and experiences as subjects of the Infidel. Using a diverse range of methodological approaches, this book challenges widely held assumptions concerning Christian-Muslim relations in the Middle Ages, and minority-majority relations in general.
The Rough Guide to Languedoc & Roussillon is the most comprehensive guide to this beautiful and varied corner of southwest France. Written by a renowned historian with more than 15 years' experience in the region, it's packed with insightful accounts, detailed practical information and clear maps. You'll find everything you need to know to make the most of the region's highlights - with information on accommodation, places to eat and much more - whether in the vibrant city of Toulouse, the magnificent fortress of Carcassonne, the picturesque beach town of Collioure or the sleepy hamlets of the Orb valley. The Rough Guide to Languedoc & Roussillon includes thorough coverage of outdoor activities, from boating along the Canal du Midi and hiking in the Pyrenees to rafting or canoeing down the Ariège. Plus, there's insightful historical and cultural background information and two lavishly illustrated colour inserts introducing you to the legacy of the Cathars and the food and wine of Languedoc and Roussillon. Make the most of your time on earth with The Rough Guide to Languedoc & Roussillon.
The definitive guide to one of France''s most varied and exciting regions. The Rough Guide to Languedoc and Roussillon combines rich cultural and historical information and lively coverage of all the sights with detailed practical information - for all budgets. Special attention is given to outdoor activities, including cycling and hiking as well as boating the region''s famous inland waterways. Expert advice is given on making the most of the region''s gastronomic specialities and vineyards. Coverage is close up and critical - the guide tells you what to see, what to pass up and gives you all the inside information to make your travels in the region rich and rewarding.
An in-depth portrait of the Crusades-era Mediterranean world, and a new understanding of the forces that shaped the Mediterranean world of 1050-1200. We experience the sights and sounds of the region just as enlightened Islamic empires and primitive Christendom began to contest it. We learn about the siege tactics, theological disputes, and poetry of this enthralling time. And we see that people ofdifferent faiths coexisted far more frequently than we are commonly told. Catlos's meticulous reconstruction of the era allows him to stunningly overturn our most basic assumption about it: that it was defined by religious extremism. He brings to light many figures who were accepted as rulers by their ostensible foes.
The Sea in the Middle presents an original and revisionist narrative of the development of the medieval west from late antiquity to the dawn of modernity. This textbook is uniquely centered on the Mediterranean and emphasizes the role played by peoples and cultures of Africa, Asia, and Europe in an age when Christians, Muslims, and Jews of various denominations engaged with each other in both conflict and collaboration. Key features: Fifteen-chapter structure to aid classroom use Sections in each chapter that feature key artifacts relevant to chapter themes Dynamic visuals, including 190 photos and 20 maps The Sea in the Middle and its sourcebook companion, Texts from the Middle, pair together to provide a framework and materials that guide students through this complex but essential history—one that will appeal to the diverse student bodies of today.
In the face of crusades, conversions, and expulsions, Muslims and their communities survived to thrive for over 500 years Medieval Europe. This comprehensive new study explores how the presence of Islamic minorities transformed Europe in everything from architecture to cooking, literature to science, and served as a stimulus for Christian society to define itself."--
The Rough Guide to Languedoc & Roussillon is the most comprehensive guide to this beautiful and varied corner of southwest France. Written by a renowned historian with more than 15 years' experience in the region, it's packed with insightful accounts, detailed practical information and clear maps. You'll find everything you need to know to make the most of the region's highlights - with information on accommodation, places to eat and much more - whether in the vibrant city of Toulouse, the magnificent fortress of Carcassonne, the picturesque beach town of Collioure or the sleepy hamlets of the Orb valley. The Rough Guide to Languedoc & Roussillon includes thorough coverage of outdoor activities, from boating along the Canal du Midi and hiking in the Pyrenees to rafting or canoeing down the Ariège. Plus, there's insightful historical and cultural background information and two lavishly illustrated colour inserts introducing you to the legacy of the Cathars and the food and wine of Languedoc and Roussillon. Make the most of your time on earth with The Rough Guide to Languedoc & Roussillon.
From the medieval town center to Gaudi's modernistic flights of fancy, Barcelona is bustling with stylish boulevards, exquisite architecture, and Spain's hottest nightlife. This guide reveals it all with lively background information, color maps, and insider reviews. 24 maps. 28-page full-color section.
The Sea in the Middle presents an original and revisionist narrative of the development of the medieval west from late antiquity to the dawn of modernity. This textbook is uniquely centered on the Mediterranean and emphasizes the role played by peoples and cultures of Africa, Asia, and Europe in an age when Christians, Muslims, and Jews of various denominations engaged with each other in both conflict and collaboration. Key features: Fifteen-chapter structure to aid classroom use Sections in each chapter that feature key artifacts relevant to chapter themes Dynamic visuals, including 190 photos and 20 maps The Sea in the Middle and its sourcebook companion, Texts from the Middle, pair together to provide a framework and materials that guide students through this complex but essential history—one that will appeal to the diverse student bodies of today.
A magisterial, myth-dispelling history of Islamic Spain spanning the millennium between the founding of Islam in the seventh century and the final expulsion of Spain's Muslims in the seventeenth In Kingdoms of Faith, award-winning historian Brian A. Catlos rewrites the history of Islamic Spain from the ground up, evoking the cultural splendor of al-Andalus, while offering an authoritative new interpretation of the forces that shaped it. Prior accounts have portrayed Islamic Spain as a paradise of enlightened tolerance or the site where civilizations clashed. Catlos taps a wide array of primary sources to paint a more complex portrait, showing how Muslims, Christians, and Jews together built a sophisticated civilization that transformed the Western world, even as they waged relentless war against each other and their coreligionists. Religion was often the language of conflict, but seldom its cause -- a lesson we would do well to learn in our own time.
An in-depth portrait of the Crusades-era Mediterranean world, and a new understanding of the forces that shaped it In Infidel Kings and Unholy Warriors, the award-winning scholar Brian Catlos puts us on the ground in the Mediterranean world of 1050–1200. We experience the sights and sounds of the region just as enlightened Islamic empires and primitive Christendom began to contest it. We learn about the siege tactics, theological disputes, and poetry of this enthralling time. And we see that people of different faiths coexisted far more frequently than we are commonly told. Catlos's meticulous reconstruction of the era allows him to stunningly overturn our most basic assumption about it: that it was defined by religious extremism. He brings to light many figures who were accepted as rulers by their ostensible foes. Samuel B. Naghrilla, a self-proclaimed Jewish messiah, became the force behind Muslim Granada. Bahram Pahlavuni, an Armenian Christian, wielded power in an Islamic caliphate. And Philip of Mahdia, a Muslim eunuch, rose to admiral in the service of Roger II, the Christian "King of Africa." What their lives reveal is that, then as now, politics were driven by a mix of self-interest, personality, and ideology. Catlos draws a similar lesson from his stirring chapters on the early Crusades, arguing that the notions of crusade and jihad were not causes of war but justifications. He imparts a crucial insight: the violence of the past cannot be blamed primarily on religion.
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