Darío Fernández Morera

Historians, journalists, and even politicians uphold the Muslim kingdom in 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 popular account: it is a myth In this groundbreaking new book, Northwestern University scholar Dario Fernandez-Morera tells the full story of Islamic rule in medieval Spain. The Myth of the Andalusian Paradise shines light on hidden history by drawing on an abundance of primary sources that historians have ignored, as well as archaeological evidence only recently unearthed. This supposed beacon of peaceful coexistence began, of course, with the Muslim's violent conquest of Spain. Far from promoting peace and religious tolerance, Muslim rulers maintained their power for centuries through brute force. Fernandez-Morera documents the many ways in which Islamic rule led to religious and cultural repression - including the subjugation of Spain's Christian population. The Myth of the Andalusian Paradise provides a desperately needed reassessment of medieval Spain, proving that the Muslims were not, in fact, benevolent rulers. As professors, politicians, and pundits continue to romanticise the Islamic occupation, Fernandez Morera sets the historical record straight - showing that a politically useful myth is a myth nonetheless.

Scholars, journalists, and politicians uphold Muslim-ruled medieval Spainal-Andalusas 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 Dario Fernandez-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. This supposed beacon of peaceful coexistence began, of course, with the Islamic Caliphates conquest of Spain. Far from a land of tolerance, Islamic Spain was marked by religious and therefore cultural repression in all areas of life, and by the marginalization of Christians and other groupsall this in the service of social control by autocratic rulers and a class of religious authorities. As professors, politicians, and pundits continue to celebrate Islamic Spain for its multiculturalism and diversity, Fernandez-Morera sets the record straightshowing that a politically useful myth is a myth nonetheless.

Los historiadores, periodistas e incluso políticos defienden el reino musulmán en la España medieval, "al-Andalus", como un paraíso multicultural, un lugar donde los musulmanes, cristianos y judíos vivian en armonia. Solo hay un problema con esta version popular: es un mito. En este libro nuevo e innovador, el academico de la Universidad de Northwestern Dario Fernandez-Morera narra la historia completa del gobierno islamico en la España medieval. El mito del Paraiso andaluz arroja luz sobre la historia oculta recurriendo a una gran cantidad de fuentes primarias que los historiadores han ignorado, asi como a la evidencia arqueologica recientemente descubierta. Este supuesto faro de la coexistencia pacifica comenzo, por supuesto, con la violenta conquista de España por los musulmanes. Lejos de promover la paz y la tolerancia religiosa, los gobernantes musulmanes mantuvieron su poder durante siglos a traves de la fuerza bruta. Fernandez-Morera documenta las numerosas formas co las que el gobierno islamico condujo a la represion religiosa y cultural, incluido el sometimiento de la poblacion cristiana española. El mito del Paraiso andaluz proporciona una reevaluacion desesperadamente necesaria de la España medieval, demostrando que los musulmanes no eran, de hecho, gobernantes benevolentes. Mientras los profesores, los politicos y los expertos continuan idealizando la ocupacion islamica, Fernandez Morera establece el record historico, mostrando que un mito politicamente util es un mito.Lectura imprescindible Antonio Carreño, W. Duncan McMillan Family profesor de Humanidades, Universidad de BrownUn hito en la investigacion Rafael Israeli, profesor de Historia Islamica, Universidad Hebrea de Jerusalen Una reinterpretacion inteligente de un supuesto paraiso de convivencia Julia Pavon Benito, profesora de Historia Medieval, Universidad de Navarra Absolutamente necesario para contrarrestar la mitologia que domina el mundo academico acerca de este tema Paul Crawford, profesor de Historia Antigua y Medieval, Universidad de California en PennsylvaniaRemedio fuerte contra la papilla que pasa por investigacion academica sobre el tema Middle East Quarterly Un libro esplendido Noel Valis, profesora de Lenguas Romances, Universidad de Yale