The Victors and the Vanquished: Christians and Muslims of Catalonia and Aragon, 1050-1300 (Cambridge Studies in Medieval Life and Thought: Fourth Series) [Paperback]

Brian A. Catlos (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0521036445 | ISBN-13: 978-0521036443 | Publication Date: May 14, 2007 | Edition: 1

This revisionary study of Muslims living under Christian rule during the Spanish "reconquest" delves into the subtleties of identity under the thirteenth-century Crown rule of Aragon. Brian Catlos uncovers a social dynamic in which sectarian differences comprise only one of the many factors in the causal complex of political, economic and cultural reactions. Beginning with the final stage of independent Muslim rule in the Ebro valley region, he traces the subtle and often surprising transformation of Islamic society into mudéjar society under Christian domination.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"an excellent piece of historiography"
- Sam Conedera, History, UCLA

"The author aims for, and delivers, far more than a simple narrative or description of the mudejar, or subject Muslim, population.... discussions of theory of intercultural relations, which are woven throughout the book, add depth and sophistication to the analysis of the extensive archival documentation undergirding this impressive study."
-Medieval Encounters, Anne Marie Wolf, University of Portland

"...such creative interdisciplinary forays are precisely what recommend this well-conceived, meticulously researched, and ultimately convincing book to an audience beyond scholars of medieval Spanish history."
- American Historical Review, Adam J. Kosto, Columbia University

"This is an ambitious, mature and comprehensive work on a topic that [Catlos] knows well. Undergraduate and postgraduate students along with specialists can learn a great deal from a book that put forward a challenging interpretation in a clear and concise style. The book is clever in structure."
- The Medieval Review, Esther Pascua, University of St. Andrews

"There is no doubt that this complex and intricate study of Muslim Christian relations, based on archival sources and a vast bibliography, is not only unusually well written, but it adds significantly to our understanding of the years 1050 to 1300 in Catalonia and Aragon. Furthermore, it is probably the most comprehensive account available of the social dynamics which made up medieval Spain before 1300... Catlos has chosen a difficult subject and has produced an outstanding contribution to the field, a volume which will long remain the standard reference for students of Muslim/Christian relations prior to 1300."
- AARHMS Newsletter, Jill Webster, St. Michael's College, University of Toronto

"a ground-breaking study that brings to life a hitherto neglected culture and population, more than deserving of our attention. It is also a model of how such archivally based studies can illuminate a society for which few narrative sources are available... [there is] wealth of insights and argument contained in what is a remarkable, and also highly readable, work of scholarship."
- EHR, Roger Collins, University of Edinburgh

"Taken as a whole, this is an extremely important contribution to existing scholarship and to the ongoing debate over the nature of Christian-Muslim social interaction during the middle ages."
- History, Simon Barton, University of Exeter

Book Description

This is a revisionary study of Muslims living under Christian rule during the Spanish 'reconquest'. It delves into the subtleties of identity in the thirteenth-century Crown of Aragon, and uncovers a social dynamic in which sectarian differences comprise only one of the many factors in the causal complex of political, economic and cultural reactions. Beginning with the final stage of independent Muslim rule in the Ebro valley region, the book traces the subtle and often surprising transformation of Islamic society into mudéjar society under Christian domination.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 480 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press; 1 edition (May 14, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521036445
• ISBN-13: 978-0521036443
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #855,278 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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