When the Moors Ruled in Europe
Bettany Hughes traces the story of the mysterious and misunderstood Moors, the Islamic society that ruled in Spain for 700 years, but whose legacy was virtually erased from Western history. In 711 AD, a tribe of newly converted Muslims from North Africa crossed the straits of Gibraltar and invaded Spain. Known as The Moors, they went on to build a rich and powerful society. Its capital, Cordoba, was the largest and most civilised city in Europe, with hospitals, libraries and a public infrastructure. Amongst the many things that were introduced to Europe by Muslims at this time were: a huge body of classical Greek texts that had been lost to the rest of Europe for centuries (kick-starting the Renaissance); mathematics and the numbers we use today; advanced astronomy and medical practices; fine dining; the concept of romantic love; and paper.
| When the Moors Ruled in Europe |
| Related Links |
| Al-Andalus - wikipedia Al-Andalus, also known as Moorish Iberia, was a medieval Muslim state and territorial region occupying parts of what is today Spain and Portugal, and small parts of modern France. |
| Cities of Life: The Rise and Fall of Islamic Spain This explores the causes that destroyed the one civilization of pluralism and interfaith cooperation that for a few centuries lit the Dark Ages in Medieval Europe. |
| The Art of Spain This is a BBC documentary series presented by Andrew Graham-Dixon, exploring Spanish art from beautiful Moorish palaces and mosques around 1000 years ago to modern Spanish architecture. |
| Tales of the Alhambra This is a collection of eBooks and audiobooks of Washington Irving's Tales of the Alhambra, first published in May 1832, a series of essays and tales of the Alhambra. |
| Science and Islam This is a three-part BBC documentary series presented by Jim Al-Khalili, exploring the history of science in medieval Islamic civilization. |