Oct+6,+8,+13,+15+Lowney+book

//**Unit Two: Islamic Spain **// 6 **L** Ch. 1-5 8 **L** Ch. 6-10 **QUIZ** 13 **L** Ch. 11-15 15 **L** Ch. 16-20 **QUIZ** Everyone has between 12 and 18 pages... don't worry about wrting detailed summaries for this... just main ideas, some main people etc; the shorter and more percise the better. Let me know if this is not helping you so that I can take you off the wiki list. Thanks! **2. Alisha Hasson** alishahasson@gmail.com **14. Hilary Fier ** hilaryfier@gmail.com Introduction –1 Chap 1. Spain Before Islam—2 Chap2. The Moors Conquer Spain—3 Chap 3. Santiago Discovered in the Field of Stars—4 Chap 4. Martyr- Activists—5 Chap 5. The Pope Who Learned Math from Muslim Spain— 6 Chap 6. Europe’s Buiest Highway—7 Chap 7. A Jewish General in a Mulsim Kingdom—8 Chap 8. The Frontier—9 Chap 9. Charlemagne –10 Chap 10. El Cid—11 Chap 11. The Second Moses and Medieval Medicine—12 Chap 12. Rethinking Religion—13 Chap 13. A Mulsim commentator Enlightens Christendom—14 Chap 14 & 15 (both short chapters) Sufism & The Kabbalah—15 Chap 16 & 17 (both short chapters) Fernando III & A Common Life Shared Among Three Faiths—16 Chap 18 Alfonso the Learned King—1 Chapter 19, 20 are short… everyone can just skim through these chapters on their own… if someone wants to post a short summary on them, great, but we will just leave it how it is…
 * Final** **Project Proposal due**
 * 1.Jennifer Crapse** jennifercrapse@yahoo.com
 * 3. Josh Schilling** schilling86@gmail.com
 * 4. Austin Williams** ilovetexas1@hotmail.com
 * 5. Samuel Dodge** samueldodge@hotmail.com
 * 6. Mike Brodie ** mikebbrodie@gmail.com
 * 7. Stephen Reimann** chubs85@msn.com
 * 8. Tyler Higa** flynhawaiian05@yahoo.com
 * 9. David** **Forsyth** davewave386@hotmail.com
 * 10. Elizabeth Uibel** elizabethuibel@gmail.com
 * 11. John Nash** hummers310@yahoo.com
 * 12. Thomas Nance** tfyans@gmail.com
 * 13. Brian Wall** guitarriff@msn.com
 * 15. Cacey Fornsworth ** cacey.farnsworth@yahoo.com
 * 16. Hilary Smith (hilary...could you put your email in right here... thanks)**

Spain became the first and only Islamic state to take root in mainland Europe. Under Muslim rule it shone throughout the 11 and 12 century. By the mid-thirteenth century the tides turned for Islamic Spain and it eventually fell into the hands of Ferdinand and Isabella in the late 16th century. There are three intertwined stories in //A Vanished World//: 1. Spain’s passage from ancient kingdom to flourishing Islamic state to Spain today. 2. Collaboration and collision of the world’s three monotheistic religions in Europe. 3. The struggle to engage religious faith with rediscovered reason. Spain was important to Christianity, Judaism and Islam. All members of these three faiths tracked through Spain towards holy sites in their pilgrimages: Muslims to Mecca, Jews to Jerusalem and Christians to Santiago de Compostela where St .James’s remains were said to be. St James was a good example of the love/hate relationship felt between the people of these three religions in Spain. James was both portrayed as the killer and the pilgrim. Christians projected their hopes and hatreds onto him. He was known as the Killer of the Moors (Muslims) and the benevolent, charitable and tolerant St James. In the book it will show how these three religions blazed a path towards tolerance and mutual respect but veered into the thicket of religious enmity in the end.
 * Introduction:**

Due to Jesus' message to his apostles to be his witnesses "to the end of the earth", James (Santiago) went to what was thought then as the end of the earth now named Santiago de Compostela. He supposedly is buried there. The book then gives a brief summary of what we know of James through the Bible and how he is one of three preeminent apostles (Peter, James, John). He is the first to die for the faith around the year 42. Only Paul mentions Spain but never makes it there, only James goes there, although there is no proof until the late 6th or early 7th century. There is a slight mention by Isidore but the authenticity is suspect. Finally in the 9th century church reticence yeilds to full-throated promotion. Supposedly after not achieving much success in Spain James was leaving but was visited by the Virgin Mary who told him not to forsake Spain. She then left a small statue of herself on a jasper wood pedestal which James eventually left with the saints of Spain before he left for Jerusalem. The 12th c. basilica of Nuestra Senora del Pilar in Saragossa apparently still guarded the relic. Although between James' visit and its current Catholic age it was Europe's most Muslim and most Jewish country. If James died in Jerusalem how did he get buried in Spain? Afraid the remains would be desecrated his followers sent them to Spain on a ship made of marble (very sketchy), the Spaniards had already returned to paganism so harnassed some bulls to drag his coffin back to the ocean, but upon sight of the coffin the bulls turned docile, a miracle which pursuaded the people. The tomb was forgotten for several centuries until between 818 and 842 when a hermit finds it and the local bishop (through a convieniently omitted forensic process) confirms the remains and King Alfonso II of Asturias builds a church at the site. This immediately became a pilgrimage attraction before the end of the 9th century. The tale is also full of political symbolism. The hermit who finds the tomb shares the same name (Pelayo) as a valiant guerrilla fighter who supposedly killed 187,000 Moors thanks to a divinely engineered earthquake. The two become one in the minds of many pilgrims due to the same name and it links Saint James with Christian Spain's political affairs. King Alfonso II backed their claims of preeminence through relations to the Visigoth warrior Pelayo and to Saint James. This connection remained as Christian Spain coalesced into the superpower state led by Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand who in 1492 completed the reconquest of Iberia. James was the patron saint during the reconquest but his peaceful nature was changed to better suit the task. The humble Pelayo was also changed as in the 1100's to King Charlemagne. Yet this myth wasn't written by any of Charlemagne's biographers but by Archbishop Turpin of Reims, an advisor to the king. According to the myth James appeared to Charlemagne and told him his tomb had gone unattended as the Moors had taken that part of Spain and it was his duty to reconquer it. It was later taken by and African king named Aigolandus who when fought to a truce was converted by Charlemagne. Then seeing how the Christians treated their servants, he recanted his conversion and was defeated by Charlemagne and Charlemagne and his troops retired to France. It lasted as it suggested people pay annual tithe to Compostela's cathedral and that the resting place should be hailed as one of the preeminent bishoprics in Christendom. Turns out that it wasn't written by the Archbishop but by a Compostela cleric who slipped the material into an edition of the chronicle written by someone pretending to be the Archbishop. So although completely fabricated served Compostela's canons, the french, and the christian crusader movement. Although Charlemagne did enter Spain it was much different then the account suggests. There was no African King and Charlemagne didn't make it to Compostela but it was liberated by Spain's christian princes. The two stories do offer windows into two very different moments in Spain's history and the apostle's cult. The initial humble story suited a shrine frequented by individual penitents, sightseers, and pilgrims presenting their private hopes to Saint James. While the other showed the change in the act of pilgrimage into something more akin to war. Even the muslim historian Ibn Hayyan commented on the grip that James' tomb had on the medieval christians, likening it to the veneration the Muslims have for the Kaba at Mecca.
 * Chapter 3: Santiago Discovered in the Field of Stars**

**__Chapter 1 : Spain before Islam__** In 7-9th century Spain, only a small fraction of people were literate, and a manuscript could cost the equivalent of 15 pigs. While Spains population was deprived of intellectual knowledge they were spared the knowledge of how dismal their lives really were. Surviving the first year of life was no mean feat most people had little or no contact with the outside world. Isadore was well educated, particularly for is time. Most likely raised in a monastery, his encyclopedic work //Etymologies// while revolutionary to his contemporaries, shows us that at his time, the knowledge of men had diminished from the Golden Ages of the past. Despite this, Isidore stood as western Europe's only major compiler of secular knowledge across the full 2oo yrs of the intellectually barren early Middle Ages and his encyclopedia is still consulted. At the time of Isidore the Visigoths were the protectors and supporters of Spain's Christian Church and Isisdore thought it in the Church's interest to support he Visigoths by burnishing their reputation. The Visigoths were just one of the many groups that made up Spain until the Romans struggle to incorporate Spain into their empire. The new regions was then labeled Hispania and over time most of the tribes assimilated Rome's language and ways. The Visigoths arrived as barbarian invaders, they engaged Rome's legions in 378 and slew Emperor Valens. Then they worked their way west and sacked Rome itself. Then they drifted westward to Spain and settled to rule chunks of Spain and France. They were nominally subject to the Roman emperor. Frankish tribes eventually routed them from France so they were then limited to Spain which they dominated until the Muslim invasion. The Visigoths were Arians- they believed Jesus was not quite human, but not quite God. They in turn 'infected' those that they encountered, particularly among the Roman empire's remote and illiterate outposts. The Visigoths kept Spain from reverting to pre-Roman patchwork but could not make her prosperous. The Muslim conquerors were able to lift Spain from the Dark Ages and make it the "ornament of the world".

Almanzor makes his way south from Santiago de Compostela and neither Muslim Spain nor Almanzor himself had ever been more powerful. He gathered power to rule al-Andalus. He built a huge complex for him and not the caliph, Almanzor was not a prince and by grabbing power he was bringing back feelings and ideas of the former Umayyad dynasty. Almanzor dies and Muslim Spain splinters into more than two dozen petty Muslim kingdoms all vying for dominance and preserve newly won independence. Though Almanzor's death was a disaster both for military and political power it did help the culture flourish. Each Muslim prince wanted to be more lavish then the next so they had tons of artists etc...Next came along Samuel ha-Nagid, or as he refered to himself "the David of his Age". He was a Jewish person living in Spain. Jews, in Spain, usually were left in power by conquering Muslim armies because they were a small enough minority that they were no threat and Muslim did not trust their Christian enemies. Jews basically were the mediators between Islam and Christianity, though they were in power it also left them vunerable because they were at the mercy of whoever was ruling at the time. Samuel ha-Nagid is a perfect example of how Jews were powerful one minute and would fall the next. Samuel was an important court official for the King Hubbus, but when he died he then sided with Badis (who was battling with his brother or rights to the kingdom). Badis won the battle and made Samuel into his cheif advisor and military commander. He was a superior leader and won many battles. Even though he was a influential and powerful leader, because he was a Jew his power could be stripped at any time. His power "hung by a thread above flames". He was also the //Nagid//, or civil leader of the Jews appointed by the Muslim government. But to illustrate how fast a Jew could fall during this time, Samuel had a son who he was grooming to become a leader too, and when Samuel was killed in battle his 21 yr. old son Joseph took over. Muslims took advantage of the young and inexperienced leader. Bad luck struck as the Muslim prince accidentaly died while dining at Joseph's house. Muslims blaimed him and feared the Jews were going to start an uprising. They murdered Joseph and quickly the great prestige Samuel had built for his family fall as if it was never there. Samuel and Joseph's bittersweet careers show the painful dilemma confronting Spain's Jews under Muslim or Christian rule. Other notes: Jews were usually valuable and safe additions as Spain's minority. They were usually highly educated. Jews though began to feel threatened and unsafe in Spain and decided to leave.
 * Chapter 7: A Jewish General in a Muslim Kingdom - Tyler Higa **

The early 11th Century was marked by the fragmenting of Muslim Spain and the unification of Christian Spain. In 1085, Christians from Castille seized Toledo. The Emir's of Muslim Spain asked for military support from their fellow Muslims from North Africa (the Almoravids). The Almoravids and the Spanish Muslims didn't like each other. The Spanish Muslims had built up centers of learning and culture, and the Almoravids felt like the Spanish Muslims were too preocuppied with wine, and high living. The Almoravids on the other hand were very pious, "country folk," who generally were not well educated, but they were disciplined soldiers, and cared little for the lifestyle of the Spanish Muslims. The Almoravids helped drive the Christians out, then went back to North Africa, but after seeing the riches of Muslim Spain they returned in 1089 and asserted authority across Muslim Spain, which help unite the area for a time. This change of power, changed the dynamic of the relationships between Muslims, Christians and, Jews. The Spanish Muslims had been rather tolerant of Christians, and Jews, and had even let them enter into high positions of authority. The Almoravids were not as kind in their treatment towards Christians and Jews. But these antagonistic feelings were also felt by the Christians, leading to the Crusades. Pope Urban II called for most of Europe to go on the crusades but told the Christian knight of Spain to stay in Spain and fight the Muslims there. These Crusaders formed quasi militray/religious orders like the Knights Templar. The most prominent order in Spain was the Order of Santiago. They lived simple, religious lives, but soon amassed a great deal of land along the frontier land between Christian and Muslim Spain. It was here that the Order turned to raising live stock and cattle. "The first cowboys and ranchers were born." (Which is why most of the cowboy terms come from Spanish.) Comparison of two epics: the //Song of Roland// revolves around Charlemagne, and the //Poem of El Cid// around Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar, or El Cid (which comes from Arabic “al-sayyid,” or “the lord/master”). These two epics depicted rallying Christian knights against the Muslim competition, and “depicted the sort of Spain that should emerge from the Reconquest.” Epics had sparse plots, and were also called //chansons de geste//, or “songs of brave deeds.” They were usually sung at banquets, fairs, and wherever the //jongleur// (singer) could find paying audiences.
 * Chapter 8: The Frontier**
 * Chapter 9 – Charlemagne**

The //Song of Roland// suggests one solution to Spain’s dilemma with the Muslims, wherein Spanish Christians who obviously worship different must covert or die. Charlemagne is somewhat frightened by the disorderly “swirl” of Muslims, Jews, and Christians in Spain, and just wants to travel from his Christian France to fix it and be done with it. The story is set almost entirely in Spain; showdown between right and wrong, Christian good and Muslim evil. The author of the epic is debated (whether it was or was not written by Turoldus, the signature of whom is on the epic’s manuscript.) He simplified the motives of Charlemagne in attacking the Muslims to create a more “pristine icon of the good Christian knight.” Near the end of the epic, Charlemagne has restored order, Christian right against Muslim wrong. Though he lost his nephew Roland to death, Charlemagne has won Muslim Spain, with “100,000 Saragossans submitting to Christian baptism.” He triumphed, but the epic ends on a more somber note with the angel Gabriel calling Charlemagne to go into battle once again against Islam (which he doesn’t want to do.) His final words are “God, how wearisome my life is.”  El Cid, however, loves Spain, and takes on the Reconquest with a different vision. El Cid believes that he must live alongside the people he conquers because he reaps the consequences of how he treats them. He does not see Spain as blank and white, or that “pagans are wrong and Christians are right” (as Charlemagne did) but believed there was goodness and nobility in both Christians and Muslims. Throughout his epic, El Cid seems a lot happier at his task than Charlemagne was.

This attempted reconciliation of Faith and Reason also spread to Christianity and Islam in Spain. Ibn Tufayl wrote story about a man stranded on an island- similar to Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe- Ibn Tufayl’s was a societal critique disguised as a fairytale- -Hayy ibn Yakzan main character-raised by himself on an island-like Tarzan -human happiness must entail contemplation of God -meets Absal-from inhabited island- They discuss relgion-Absal is Muslim although it is never named- Hayy is impressed because he worships similarily but is amazed at all the extra corruption- seeking wealth, overindulgence etc. Tufayl suggests one can obtain enlightenment outside organized religion-Hayy and Absal eventually reject society and abandon the inhabited island because their form of worship is superior -Tufayl becomes supreme environmentalist-recognizes our power to destroy the environment-with that comes the responsibility to preserve it
 * Chapter 12--Rethinking Religion**
 * The Marriage of Faith and Reason**
 * Maimonides** was "disciplined, and well-ordered."
 * He wrote a compilation of Rabbinical thought and interpretation of the Torah, named //Mishneh Torah (Repetition of the Law)//
 * He was bold enough to assert that "a man who first reads the Written Law and after that reads this [Mishneh Torah], will know from it the entire Oral Law and will have no need to read any other book besides them."
 * He believed that revelation was reasonable and would not contradict logic or science.
 * In his book he explained not just the law, but also why certain passages of scripture should be interpreted metaphorically and others literally.
 * He sought to help doubting Jews understand that Philosophy, Science and all rational inquiry was completely compatible with their beliefs, and could deepen their faith and understanding.
 * He taught that "man in God's image" meant that man has been endowed with //Divine Intellect//, that is, the power to think, and he should use this power. "Humans must strive to 'harmonize the law with what is intelligible.'"
 * He railed against Rabbis who taught that God was anthropomorphic.
 * Going against many Jewish contemporaries, he taught that in the afterlife, man would discard his physical body, and exist only spiritually with God.
 * Many of his teachings, which were based on Greek thought, were alien to Jewish tradition, and many devout Jews were dismayed by his ideas.
 * All this brought about a crisis, later called the Maimonidean Controversy, that swept across Spain and southern France.
 * CHAPTER 13- A MUSLIM COMMENTATOR ENLIGHTENS CHRISTENDOM

Ibn Rushd-“Averroes”- claimed importance of reason with Islamic law-scripture invites men to knowledge of God, through the door of “rational speculation”. -when reason established the need sacred texts required interpretation- -believed Plato’s vision of Republic could be fulfilled if Sultans weren’t corrupt or indulging in their personal wealth

4 Bulwarks (defenses) of Islamic law- -Quran -hadith -reasoning based on well-established principles -consensus of Muslim community

Averroes-influenced Christian philosophers such as Thomas Aquinas and those that taught at the University of Paris- they who followed Averroes were eventually excommunicated-

Chapter 18: Alfonso the Learned King ** Alfonso VI was the King of Castile, de facto king of Galicia and self-proclaimed Emperor of all Spain from 1040-1109. He fought the Marinid dynasty (Muslims Berbers) to gain control over Spanish territory. The battles were horrific (as battles usually are)… the Marinids killed his first son Fernando, but Alfonso would end up allying with a Marinid Sultan for financial and military help in keeping his power. Alfonso’s second son Sancho would become his heir. Alfonso “epitomized the best and worst of Spain at this time.” He was like Saint James (Santiago). He was known as Alfonso the Moor killer and Alfonso the wise. There were great cultural, scientific, governmental, and human rights achievements during his reign. He also fostered a common language among the people. The Christians, Jews and Muslims were relatively united under Alfonso. The legal system he enacted was comparably tolerant towards those of Jewish and Muslim faith. They were not to be forced to convert to Christianity and everyone was under the same set of laws in most cases (Christians, Muslims and Jews). However, Alfonso also “mirrored the kingdom he ruled, a land torn by contradictory beliefs and passions during the uneasy struggle to transform many Spains into one nation. “ “One Spain almost took Shape,” but in the in the fourteenth and fifteenth century, tolerance was no longer seen as necessary. In the 15th century Ferdinand and Isabella would completely abandon such notions.