Moorish Spain Paperback – 15 Nov. 2001

If you ever watched the film El-Cid and wondered how much was truth and how much Hollywood invention, this book is the answer. The author states that his aim is to inform those that are taking a trip to Spain and to provide enough detail to explain the events and what lay behind them. He does this supremely well with plenty of historical detail, yet told in a style that keeps the pages turning. Covers 800 years and provides everything you are likely to want to know about this fascinating period with parallels to today's difficult relationship with Islam.

There are today two conflicting and extreme views of Muslim Spain, one is that it was a multicultural paradise where different faiths were tolerated and a conduit for the transmission of classical Greek and Persian learning to Western Europe, the other that it was marked by religious and cultural repression and that its Arab and Berber rulers were incapable of appreciating or transmitting classical culture. Richard Fletcher does not subscribe to either view but gives a nuanced interpretation of almost eight centuries of contact between two different religious and cultural traditions, sometimes in conflict but often having to accommodate each other.Fletcher explores the effect of the Muslim occupation of much of Spain on its language, arts ideas, and politics. While the greatest effect of what he terms the Moorish impact, because it mostly derived from North Africa, was during the Middle Ages, it continued to shape Spanish culture even after the fall of Granada. After a rapid conquest, by 1000 A.D. of most Christians had converted or emigrated, although Christian and Jewish minorities tried to preserve their faiths in some Muslim areas. Moorish innovations in agriculture, including irrigation and new crops, new industries and integrating Spain into international trade routes transformed the country.Moorish Spain is an introductory summary which offers no new interpretations. However, Fletcher’s clear grasp of the subject based on a variety of sources and his readable writing style make this a valuable introduction. The lacks reference and footnotes is understandable but at least some readers would like to follow up some of the matters only briefly touched on.Returning to the original conflicting views mentioned, Fletcher is clear that toleration of any deviation was at best limited and in the periods when North African fundamentalists ruled, almost non-existent. Christians, Jews, Berbers and even Muslims who did not follow the accepted conventions were more often persecuted that grudgingly accepted and the best that could be said is this was no worse than the situation in the Christian kingdoms. On the other hand, he is clear that Al-Andalus was the main conduit for Greek and Persian philosophical, scientific and medical knowledge translated first into Arabic then re-translated into Latin to reach and enrich Western Europe, rather than Sicily or the Crusader kingdoms.In summary, “Moorish Spain” is a very readable introduction not only to Muslim Spain but towards an understanding of the history of Muslim influence on Europe.

The book arrived quickly and in very good condition. It is very informative and detailed especially when referring to native Iberian families that converted to Islam. For an initial interest in the subject I would recommend buying it

Clear, informative, well researched and a good read!

I bought this book before going to Andalucía for a holiday. The author, Richard Fletcher, has a very positive view of Islamic influence in Spain between the 8th and 17th century (though he backtracks a little towards the end of the book). I found the style a little pedestrian at first, especially the inevitable succession of Moorish/Arabic names which often needed a quick back-check to find out who was doing what to whom! As I progressed, however, the narrative was more and more absorbing and I was quite sorry to reach the end. My main disappointment was the pictures and maps, all of which were in monochrome. Understandably, many of the pictures were old and not very distinct but the modern pictures were not a lot better. The maps were adequate but tended to be small and needed a large modern day map of the whole country and or Andalucía (in colour?) which would have saved me going to Google or finding my atlas every time that I picked up the book.I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a good overview of the history of Islamic Spain as a precursor to seeing Andalucía in the flesh. But don't expect to be able to read the whole book on the plane over there!

Fantastic insights in to an under reported phase of Spanish history. Balanced, factual and well written. Highly recommend.

Splendidly readable and insightful indeed. Amazing how historical imprint can leave its indelible mark if only one knows where to look. This book provides an excellent guide.