Medieval Iberia: Readings from Christian, Muslim, and Jewish Sources

by Olivia Remie Constable (Editor)

The documents collected here date mostly from the eighth through the fifteenth centuries and have been translated from Latin, Arabic, Hebrew, Judeo-Arabic, Castilian, Catalan, and Portuguese by many of the most eminent scholars in the field of Iberian studies. The selections include chronicle materials, poetry, and legal and religious sources, and each is accompanied by a brief introduction placing the text in its historical and cultural setting. Arranged chronologically, the documents are also keyed so as to be accessible to readers interested in specific topics such as urban life, the politics of the royal courts, interfaith relations, or women, marriage, and the family. For some historians, medieval Iberian society was primarily one of peaceful coexistence and cross-cultural fertilization; others have sketched a harsher picture of Muslims and Christians engaged in an ongoing contest for political, religious, and economic advantage culminating in the fall of Muslim Granada and the expulsion of the Jews in the late fifteenth century. The reality that emerges in Medieval Iberia is more nuanced than either of these scenarios can comprehend; this monumental collection offers unparalleled access to the multicultural complexity of the lands that would become modern Portugal and Spain.

Genres: History, Islam, Spain, Nonfiction, Judaism, Christianity, Medieval

456 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

Reviews

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

A comprehensive, deep, and engrossing collection of primary-source writings from medieval Spain, with an emphasis on equal treatment of Jewish and Muslim works beside the more commonly studied Christian ones. That said, the lion's share of these texts are still Christian ones and pretty much what one would expect for this period. Still, it would be difficult to find a better collection in a single-book anthology.

[Teddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Only read a few selections for a class on al-Andalus. Very comprehensive group of primary sources.

[Jacob · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very impressive collection of primary sources from Iberia covering close to a thousand years of history. We read the majority of these for my history seminar class on Muslim Spain. Most writing in the medieval era was done by royalty and religious scholars, so most of the texts are political or religious disputes, as well as charters, decrees, and statements on proper living.

It makes me excited about doing history writing when you see all of the potential and insights to be discovered within this vast collection of sources.

[زاهيد بوحاميدي]

salut

[Layla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read these primary sources for a class and I really like the way the book is organized. The documents reveal centuries worth of information and displays different perspectives too.

[Lorenz · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very nice book! I will give you a first-hand account of what was life like in the middle ages, particularly in Spain..

[Khaled Abu · Rating 5 out of 5]

great collection

[Mohamad Ballan · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent collection of documents. A must-have for all students of medieval Iberia.

[Mills College Library]

306.0946 M4899 2012