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The Myth of the Andalusian Paradise

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

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The Myth of the Andalusian Paradise

By: Dario Fernandez Morera
Narrated by: Bob Souer
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About this listen

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 Christianity Europe Islam Judaism Spain Middle Ages Middle East Iran Africa Mythology Ottoman Empire Imperialism Ancient History Portugal Crusade Mediaeval History Mediaeval Spain
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This scholarly work vividly exposes the lie that Muslim Spain was a haven of tolerance and high Muslim culture. It's a must read for all who want to understand the richness of Visigoth Spain and how it was overshadowed and subsumed by heartless invaders whose fanatical religious iconoclastic zeal cast a shadow and stain on Europe that must be seen for what it was and not romanticized by modern politically correct revisionists.

Muslim Spain was not a nice place

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The main thesis of the document is to prove that al-Andalus was not that place where the three monotheistic religions lived in peace with each other. The author, quoting different sources, both Christian and Muslim, shows how this "convivencia" was merely a "coexistencia" with the Muslim population having most of the benefits while the remaining Christians and Jews were second rate citizens. Not much of peace with each other but barely tolerating each other.

Regarding the narration, it was OK but the narrator messed the pronunciation of several Spanish names and sounded robotic in certain passages.

Interesting book

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I thought I was getting a deep historical observation on Muslim Spain, but instead I got a biased reading of someone who obviously holds disdain for Muslims and is just trying to discredit the rule of the Ummayad Caliphate.

Don't read this if you're expecting a non biased historical commentary based on facts, this is based on the authors selected historical information that tries to discredit and doesn't give anything meaningful to the reader. Only thing I enjoyed was the amazinglz mature voice of the narrator, but it's not enough to recommend whatsoever.

Biased and subjective

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Totally blind author, only sees the Muslims as capable of doing wrong. This will only increase the hate and insanity of neo-nazis, white supremacist and extremist Christians for Muslims.

Crazy Christian properganda

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