Convivencia: Jews, Muslims, and Christians in Medieval Spain [Hardcover]

N. Y.) Jewish Museum (New York (Author), Vivian B. Mann (Author, Editor), Jerrilynn Denise Dodds (Author, Editor), Thomas F. Glick (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1992

The Middle Ages in Spain—the the period from the Muslim conquest of 711 to the expulsion of the Jews and the defeat of the last Muslim ruler in 1492—witnessed an extraordinary "Golden Age" through the intermingling of its Jewish, Muslim, and Christian inhabitants. This volume explores the nature of their coexistence (termed convivencia by Spanish historians), which embraced not only ideological interchange and cultural influence, but also mutual friction, rivalry, and suspicion.

The cultural and social dynamics underlying convivencia powerfully influenced the creation of poetry, art, architecture, and the material culture of Spain, as well as the transmission and absorption of scientific ideas and technology from East to West. Explored by leading scholars in each of these fields, the cultural treasures of convivencia range from Hebrew biblical manuscripts illuminated with Islamic stylistic motifs, to astrolabes with Latin inscriptions, to the first examples of secular Hebrew poetry. More than one hundred of the objects are united for the first time in an exhibition at the Jewish Museum, New York.

At a time when the study of cultural fusion is receiving increasing attention, this volume offers a fresh and comprehensive view of Spain's pluralistic medieval society. Moreover, it celebrates an inspiring history of cultural achievement in the context of intergroup relations that were both negative and positive. 36 color and 60 b/w plates.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The coexistence or convivencia of Jews, Muslims and Christians on Iberian soil from 711 to 1492 produced a remarkable cross-fertilization of ideas, as revealed by this splendidly illustrated catalog of an exhibition at the Jewish Museum in New York City. One provocative essayist contends that Arabs and Jews, through exchanges in astronomy, philosophy and mathematics, "introduced a new epistemology to the Latin West." Another contributor traces how Arabic poetry helped to inspire the first Hebrew secular poetry since biblical times. The Mudejar architectural style, developed by Muslims under Christian rule, was grafted onto Sephardic Jewish synagogues and Christian churches. Other essayists discuss Hebrew illuminated manuscripts, articles of daily use, and stereotypes of Muslims and Jews in Christian literature. Scores of plates (36 in color) accompany an accessible text. Mann is a scholar at the Jewish Museum, Dodds a City University of New York art historian, Glick a Boston University history professor.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

This beautifully illustrated and produced catalog examines the cultural coexistence ( convivencia ) of the Islamic, Jewish, and Christian populations in Islamic Spain, who jointly created a civilization that was one of the most glorious in Islamic history. The topics range widely. In a provocative and insightful essay, convivencia is examined through Sephardic eyes. Other essays consider Hebrew poetry and Hebrew illuminated manuscripts that use Islamic motifs. All the topics examined are important to the history of medieval Spain, and the volume as a whole is an important addition to the scholarly literature on the subject. The items reproduced here are of the highest quality, and the reproductions themselves are very well done. A valuable bibliography is included. This volume effectively complements the exhibition yet can stand alone, for it offers a unique perspective on the cultural history of Spain.
- Martin Chasin, Adult Inst., Bridgeport, Ct.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 263 pages
• Publisher: George Braziller; 1st edition (November 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0807612839
• ISBN-13: 978-0807612835
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,909,658 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Particularly interesting in this era of religious and cultural strife, January 28, 2009

By 

Elizabeth A. Root (Laurel, MD USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Convivencia: Jews, Muslims, and Christians in Medieval Spain (Paperback)

This appears to be a reprint of the work originally published in 1992, so I will repeat my review here.

This is a catalog accompanying an exhibit at the Jewish Museum, New York, which was formally designated a project of the Spain '92 Foundation. Eight essays, a collection of catalog entries, and numerous photographs, mostly in color, reflect on the culture of Spain and al-Andalusia, and to a lesser extent Portugal and Navarre, between 711 and 1492. The focus is primarily upon the culture of the Jews, who, never being in political power, offer an interesting perspective on cultural cross-fertilization and tolerance on the Iberian peninsula.

I occasionally found the essays somewhat difficult to follow, not having much background in the various subjects. The greatest disappointment is that not all of the items in the exhibit are pictured, and so reading catalog descriptions of items that one cannot see is somewhat frustrating.

Despite these relatively minor criticisms, I found the book extremely enlightening, and considerably more subtle and complex than nostalgic views of a golden age. Particularly recommended in these times of religious and cultural strife.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Particularly interesting in this era of religious and cultural strife, January 28, 2009

By 

Elizabeth A. Root (Laurel, MD USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Convivencia: Jews, Muslims, and Christians in Medieval Spain. (Paperback)

This is a catalog accompanying an exhibit at the Jewish Museum, New York, which was formally designated a project of the Spain '92 Foundation. Eight essays, a collection of catalog entries, and numerous photographs, mostly in color, reflect on the culture of Spain and al-Andalusia, and to a lesser extent Portugal and Navarre, between 711 and 1492. The focus is primarily upon the culture of the Jews, who, never being in political power, offer an interesting perspective on cultural cross-fertilization and tolerance on the Iberian peninsula.

I occasionally found the essays somewhat difficult to follow, not having much background in the various subjects. The greatest disappointment is that not all of the items in the exhibit are pictured, and so reading catalog descriptions of items that one cannot see is somewhat frustrating.

Despite these relatively minor criticisms, I found the book extremely enlightening, and considerably more subtle than nostalgic views of a golden age. Particularly recommended in these times of religious and cultural strife.