Customer Reviews

The Arab Conquest of Spain: 710-797 (A History of Spain)

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It goes without saying that early medieval Spanish history is something of an acquired taste. However, it is surprising how much can be learnt about the interaction of western European societies and the Arab world by concentrating on this fascinating period of Spain's development. A reader with an interest in history but no specialist knowledge of early Spain can certainly enjoy this book, in which Collins shows himself to be a first-class historical detective!

Collins appears to be an expert on this topic. However I wish he would share more histroy with us. I understand that not much is known but the reader deserves more information. Unfortunately this is a 200 page bibliography which left me clueless on what happened in Spain during this period. This book should be titled "A List of Chronicles" I want my money back!

This is a really wonderful book; Collins writes well and he has a very clear idea of what happened in Spain in the 7-8th century, which is not called the Dark Ages for nothing. Anybody with an interest in the period will love it.

Murphey seemed having a hard time focusing on one subject before relating to another in this hard-to-read book. The time spans forced a forward-and-back and again type of story-telling , that's the order of the day in his work.

I wouldn't recommend it for those new in this subject, but it's a challenge for the old-cracks. The argument on the fragile rule of the Berber dynasties sound solid enough but too few on the Septimanian questions.