Moorish Spain

by Richard Fletcher

Book Overview

Beginning in the year 711 and continuing for nearly a thousand years, the Islamic presence survived in Spain, at times flourishing, and at other times dwindling into warring fiefdoms. But the culture... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 080502395X
• ISBN13: 9780805023954
• Release Date: January 1992
• Publisher: Henry Holt & Company
• Length: 189 Pages
• Weight: 1.01 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.3" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Riveting, accurate and succinct

For all students of Islam, Richard Fletcher's 175 pages of text are critical reading that dispel the widely disseminated myths of a kind, gentle "golden age" of Andalusian Islam. Many accounts exist from Islamic conquerors and subjugated Christians, but only three important contemporary reports meet scientific tests---a "single but crucial administrative document from the Islamic side," "a small amount of archaeological evidence" and an anonymous Christian, Latin narrative (aka "Chronicle of 754")---give a "more reliable account of events in Spain during the first half of the eighth century than any other surviving narrative sources." In 711, after early 8th century Arab raids had laid waste to "several provinces," North African governor Musa ibn Nusayr sent Tariq's army to Spain, followed shortly after with his own fully equipped legions. Tariq's Islamic invaders decisively defeated Roderic of Spain (and murdered him) in 712 at the "Transductine promontories," most likely situated between Algericas and Jerez. In Toledo, Musa executed prominent nobles, wasted the countryside, also then devastating the Ebro valley and Zargoza, where he inflicted further mass murder. Toledo's Bishop fled. When the Umayyad Caliph recalled Musa to Damascus---with innumerable enslaved Visigoth lords and their gold bullion and jewels---he assigned Spain's governorship to his son Abd al-Aziz, who by 715 conquered provinces throughout the Iberian peninsula. Other documents corroborate the Toledo Bishop's arrival in Rome, archaeological excavations discovered signs of violent 8th century devastation alongside 711 to 713 coins. Also, Abd al-Aziz' April 5, 713 treaty promised Theodemir lordship over seven southeastern Spanish towns and free Christian practice---in exchange for stiff annual poll taxes (one silver dinar per person) plus wheat, barley, unfermented grape juice, vinegar, honey and oil and promises not to aid the Islamic conquerors' enemies. As-Samh distributed Visigoth monarchy lands "by lot" to Muslim governors and conquering soldiers from 718 through 720; the Arab minority obtained most fertile lands and North African Berbers got the less fertile central and northern peninsula and southern and eastern mountains. Some 150,000 to 200,000 Arab and Berber warriors migrated to Spain as well. The Berbers 739 Maghreb revolt precipitated an "endemic civil war" in Andalusia. In 750, the Abbasids (descended from Mohammed's uncle Abbas) defeated the Umayyads---shifting Islam's center east to Baghdad, where the Abbasid Caliphate established its capital in 762. But in 756 Umayyad Abd al-Rahman escaped Abbasid Caliph al-Saffah ("shedder of blood"), crossing to Spain, and establishing a rival Umayyad empire in Cordoba, which ruled Spain until 1031. It was never a kind and gentle rule or "Islamic golden age," despite frequent claims to the contrary. Apart from 8th Century devastation and waste of Spain, the Umayyads wrecked havoc later too. Emir al-Haken (796-822)

Riveting, accurate and succinct

For all students of Islam, Richard Fletcher's 175 pages of text are critical reading that dispel the myths wide of a kind, gentle "golden age" of Andalusian Islam. Many accounts exist from Islamic conquerors and subjugated Christians, but only three important contemporary reports meet scientific tests---a "single but crucial administrative document from the Islamic side," "a small amount of archaeological evidence" and an anonymous Christian, Latin narrative (aka "Chronicle of 754")---give a "more reliable account of events in Spain during the first half of the eighth century than any other surviving narrative sources." In 711, after early 8th century Arab raids had laid waste to "several provinces," North African governor Musa ibn Nusayr sent Tariq's army to Spain, followed shortly after with his own fully equipped legions. Tariq's Islamic invaders decisively defeated Roderic of Spain (and murdered him) in 712 at the "Transductine promontories," most likely situated between Algericas and Jerez. In Toledo, Musa executed prominent nobles, wasted the countryside, also then devastating the Ebro valley and Zargoza, where he inflicted further mass murder. Toledo's Bishop fled. When the Umayyad Caliph recalled Musa to Damascus---with innumerable enslaved Visigoth lords and their gold bullion and jewels---he assigned Spain's governorship to his son Abd al-Aziz, who by 715 conquered provinces throughout the Iberian peninsula. Other documents corroborate the Toledo Bishop's arrival in Rome, archaeological excavations discovered signs of violent 8th century devastation alongside 711 to 713 coins. Also, Abd al-Aziz' April 5, 713 treaty promised Theodemir lordship over seven southeastern Spanish towns and free Christian practice---in exchange for stiff annual poll taxes (one silver dinar per person) plus wheat, barley, unfermented grape juice, vinegar, honey and oil and promises not to aid the Islamic conquerors' enemies. As-Samh distributed Visigoth monarchy lands "by lot" to Muslim governors and conquering soldiers from 718 through 720; the Arab minority obtained most fertile lands and North African Berbers got the less fertile central and northern peninsula and southern and eastern mountains. Some 150,000 to 200,000 Arab and Berber warriors migrated to Spain as well. The Berbers 739 Maghreb revolt precipitated an "endemic civil war" in Andalusia. In 750, the Abbasids (descended from Mohammed's uncle Abbas) defeated the Umayyads---shifting Islam's center east to Baghdad, where the Abbasid Caliphate established its capital in 762. But in 756 Umayyad Abd al-Rahman escaped Abbasid Caliph al-Saffah ("shedder of blood"), crossing to Spain, and establishing a rival Umayyad empire in Cordoba, which ruled Spain until 1031. It was never a kind and gentle rule or "Islamic golden age," despite frequent claims to the contrary. Apart from 8th Century devastation and waste of Spain, the Umayyads wrecked havoc later too. Emir al-Haken (796-822) established a p

Probably the best popular work on the topic

Richard Fletcher's "Moorish Spain" is a refreshing tonic against the plethora of books on Islamic Spain idealizing the supposed 'Convivencia' (especially, "The Ornament of the World" by Maria Rosa Menocal). Fletcher avoids the tendency among many scholars who wish to find an apt, hopeful (albeit unrealistic) Christian-Islamic modus vivendi for Europe's present-day demographic predicament based on a romaticized model of medieval Spain. Presented in a well-researched, matter-of-fact fashion, the 'good' is presented in the context of the 'bad and the ugly'.

A gem, excellent, something for everyone

This is a little gem of a book. Coming in at just 175 pages in my edition, it manages to convey the feel of the time period more vividly than much longer books with detailed narratives. Although it is written primarily as an introduction for the general reader, I think more serious readers will find Fletcher's perspective useful and don't have much of an excuse for not reading it. It discusses interesting political themes of the period, such as ethnic tensions between Arabs and Berbers, as well as dedicating substantial attention to relations between Christians, Muslims, and Jews in Moorish Spain. Chapters are arranged mostly chronologically but some are thematic. There are chapters, for example, on the invasion, Caliphate period, the taifa kingdoms, the Almoravid/Almohad period, as well as the Nasrids. This helps the reader keep the broad historical outline in mind while sparing readers who don't want too much narrative detail. A major success of the book is the excellent use of primary sources. Fletcher is not afraid to dedicate regularly half of a page or more to a well selected quotation. These are excellent for conjuring up the flavor of the time period and also illustrate the difficulties that the historian faces when trying to write history based on documents that are sometimes difficult or sparse. Some histories of this time period seem to take a romanticized opinion of Moorish culture, depicting it as a time of harmony between Muslims, Christians, and Jews as well as a period of great cultural and scientific achievements. While there doubtless were great achievements and relative harmony during this period, the author goes to lengths to avoid an overly rosy view. He points out that, while Christians and Jews were provided religious toleration, they did not have full political equality at any time nor did many people take an active interest in learning about their neighbors' religions. This seems like a useful corrective. I highly recommend this book. I doubt you will be disappointed and, even if you are, the shortness of the book means you will not feel like you have wasted much time. [The following autobiographical information is provided to help you decide how much to trust my review. I am not a professional historian but read history extensively for entertainment. I have read 8 or 9 books on Spanish history, although only 3 or 4 treated the medieval time period. I have been to Spain twice.]

Richard Fletcher is the Bernard Lewis of Moorish Spain

Any casual reader traveling to Southern Spain for the first time should read Fletcher's book before departure. Simply put, it is one of the best summaries of the 700 years of Islamic rule in Moorish Spain. Fletcher's sharp analysis and story-telling skills make this book a real stand-out. If you are familiar with the work of Bernard Lewis, the gifted and prolific Middle East historian, I suspect you will appreciate the efforts of Richard Fletcher.My wife and I own a home in one of the oldest Moorish & Jewish quarters in Southern Spain, have visited many significant Moorish sites and have read dozens of books about Spain's Islamic period, including Maria Rosa Menocal's "Ornament of the World: How Muslims, Jews and Christians Created a Culture of Tolerance in Medieval Spain." We want you to know Fletcher's book remains one of the most dog-eared, and borrowed books about Spain in our library today. If you are a fan of Moorish architecture, history, music, poetry and art, I suspect Fletcher's book will become an important companion for many years to come.