Overview

This splendidly illustrated book is a history of medieval Castile from the 11th to 14th centuries, told from a largely cultural standpoint. Whilst the political narrative of these centuries may emphasise war and intolerance - the inexorable forward march of the reconquista, the authors argue that the cultural record tells a very different story. They emphasise the concept of hybridisation, and show how interaction rather than antagonism more often informed cultural transactions between Christians, Muslims and Jews in the great cities of the region, focusing on Toledo, Seville and Cordoba. The extraordinary architecture of the region receives probably the most attention, but none of the visual arts miss out, and there are also extensive discussions and translations of the poetry and written culture of the three communities. A beautiful testament to a unique artistic culture, and an engaging presentation of the growing argument for a surpringly mixed cultural world.

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9780300106091

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Reviews

All Medievalists should welcome and treasure this splendid book. Here we see, in an innovative and eminently convincing perspective, the unique phenomenon of medieval Iberia, as a collaborative and also as a conflictive creation of Castilians belonging to the three religions. As much for scholars interested in literature and language, as for those concerned with art and architecture, this book will be 'must' reading. Dodds, Menocal, and Krasner Balbale deserve our thanks and our congratulations. -Samuel G. Armistead -- Samuel G. Armistead

The art, the architecture, and the poetry produced in the medieval Iberian peninsula are of such astonishing quality that a survey, especially when it is as intelligent and well presented as this one, can hardly fail both to illuminate and instruct. -J.H./i>--J.H. Elliott New York Review of Books (08/13/2009)

Author Information

Jerrilynn D. Dodds is distinguished professor and senior faculty advisor to the provost for undergraduate education, City College of New York. Maria Rosa Menocal is director, Whitney Humanities Center, and Sterling Professor of Humanities, Yale University. Her previous book, The Ornament of the World: How Muslims, Jews, and Christians Created a Culture of Tolerance in Medieval Spain, has been translated into seven languages. Abigail Krasner Balbale is a candidate for the Ph.D. in history and Middle Eastern studies at Harvard University, where she focuses on the cultural history of medieval Iberia.

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