The Myth of the Andalusian Paradise

Muslims, Christians, and Jews Under Islamic Rule in Medieval Spain

By: Dario Fernandez Morera

Narrated by: Bob Souer

Scholars, journalists, and politicians uphold Muslim-ruled medieval Spain - "al-Andalus" - as a multicultural paradise, a place where Muslims, Christians, and Jews lived in harmony.

There is only one problem with this widely accepted account: It is a myth.

In this groundbreaking book, Northwestern University scholar Darío Fernández-Morera tells the full story of Islamic Spain. The Myth of the Andalusian Paradise shines light on hidden features of this medieval culture by drawing on an abundance of primary sources that scholars have ignored, as well as archaeological evidence only recently unearthed.

As professors, politicians, and pundits continue to celebrate Islamic Spain for its "multiculturalism" and "diversity", Fernández-Morera sets the record straight - showing that a politically useful myth is a myth nonetheless.

©2016 Darío Fernández-Morera (P)2016 Tantor

Repetitive

This reads more like a text book. The subject is well researched, but the other repeats the same points throughout the book.

Refreshing

At first I thought this was going to be more of a history book it was more of a response to pro-Islamic notions that exist in academia. The author does a good job of addressing head on the claims that the Muslims who conquered Spain were fair and benevolent to the Jews and the Christians they defeated. He does a very good job of siting his sources and addresses all points of view to uncover the truth of what life was really like.

On a side note, I contacted the author about a request for further reading and he responded to me in less than a day with a few suggestions.

Smashes myths

Even freedom lovers have been fooled that there was freedom in Spain that the inquisitor Reonquistas ruined. Their heirs razed American civilizations and stole their wealth. Now we know that if they had a model for conquest, rule and run, it was Islam. That alone created the dark ages, more barbaric and totalitarian than the barbarians. Who were the Visigoths? You will know when you finish and what happened to them including the persecutions. There was little freedom, no women's liberation, but there was plenty of slavery.

Excellent book of the true story of Spain under The Muslims.

This book turned out to be excellent and I became more excited about it as it went on. At first the scholarly nature, and somewhat flat narration, of the book made it initially troublesome to follow. However, after persevering through the first chapter, I came to appreciate the author's depth of research and the tremendous amount of original sources, both Christian and Muslim, which the author referenced to prove the author's arguments. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has been suspicious of the "history" portrayed as conventional wisdom in mainstream liberal, frequently anti-Christian, writings, which are read without question by most and accepted, from the time of elementary school on, as "the truth".

Unvarnished Truth About Islamic Spain

Islam was tolerant and advanced, Christians backwards and stupid. The fairy tales meant to please the Saudi and other Muslim donors to history departments are widespread . You won't find that here. You will find throughly sourced, credible
And non biased review of the historical record of Spain under Muslim religious imperialism.

You will learn and explore Spain's history through clear lenses and will find yourself fascinated with this amazing story of cultural survival in the face of brutal oppression.