Maria Rosa Menocal

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

How Muslims, Jews, and Christians Created a Culture of Tolerance in Medieval Spain

The Ornament of the World

Donald

This is definitely popular, not scholarly, history, but it was a lot of fun. I know very little about the history of Islam. Now I know a bit more. It's interesting that the intellectual and cultural center of European was Arabic speaking for several centuries and that the first return of Greek philosophy to Europe was via Arabic scholars.

My favorite part of the book was its focus on poetry. I knew some of the most famous Hebrew poets but did not know any of the poets who wrote in Arabic. I should try to read poetry in Hebrew.

Final thoughts: I want to learn Arabic, and it's depressing that the world has gotten less cosmopolitan with modernity, not more so.

Karim Nas

Compared to previous ages, religious tolerance today is relatively better. Although we do still see some violent acts and conflicts waged in the name of God. But compared to Andalusia in its glory days, we have so many to learn.
This is a unique period where all the major Abrahamic religions live and coexist together in relative harmony for hundreds of years. It is the time of Jewish Golden Age, in when Jews live under the protection of an inclusive Muslim Ummayad Caliphate and later Christian Castille Kingdom. It was the time when the Arabic language was the scientific and cultural lingua franca of Europe. A fascinating era.

The Ornament of the World How Muslims, Jews, and Christians Created a Culture of Tolerance in Medieval Spain

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