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Chris Lowney

A Vanished World: Muslims, Christians, and Jews in Medieval Spain Paperback – September 14, 2006

by Chris Lowney (Author)

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In a world torn by religious antagonism, lessons can be learned from medieval Spanish villages where Muslims, Christians, and Jews rubbed shoulders on a daily basis--sharing irrigation canals, bathhouses, municipal ovens, and marketplaces. Medieval Spaniards introduced Europeans to paper manufacture, Hindu-Arabic numerals, philosophical classics, algebra, citrus fruits, cotton, and new medical techniques. Her mystics penned classics of Kabbalah and Sufism. More astonishing than Spain's wide-ranging accomplishments, however, was the simple fact that until the destruction of the last Muslim Kingdom by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella in 1492, Spain's Muslims, Christians, and Jews often managed to bestow tolerance and freedom of worship on the minorities in their midst.
A Vanished World chronicles this panoramic sweep of human history and achievement, encompassing both the agony of Jihad, Crusades, and Inquisition, and the glory of a multi-religious, multi-cultural civilization that forever changed the West. Lowney shows how these three controversial religious groups once lived and worked together in Spain, creating commerce, culture, art, and architecture. He reveals how these three faith groups eventually veered into a thicket of resentment and violence, and shows how our current policies and approaches might lead us down the same path.
Rising above politics, propaganda, and name-calling, A Vanished World provides a hopeful meditation on how relations among these three faith groups have gone wrong and some ideas on how to make their interactions right.

Print length

320 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Oxford University Press
Publication date

September 14, 2006
Dimensions

9.1 x 6 x 0.8 inches
ISBN-10

0195311914
ISBN-13

978-0195311914
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Editorial Reviews

Review

""A Vanished World" provides a walking journey inside the astonishing history of medieval Spain's life for Muslims, Christians, and Jews. A fascinating historical lesson about an era that reflects the best and the worst of humanity's attempts to coexist."

-- Fajri Ansari, President of the Network of Religious Communities and Resident Imam of Masjid Nu'Man, Buffalo, New York

About the Author

Chris Lowney served as a Jesuit seminarian for seven years, and later served JP Morgan & Co. as a Managing Director on three continents. A Vanished World follows his acclaimed, award winning first book, Heroic Leadership: Best Practices from a 450-Year-Old Company that Changed the World. Lowney has raised money for charity by trekking the 500-mile medieval pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela that figures prominently in A Vanished World.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Oxford University Press; 1st edition (September 14, 2006)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0195311914
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0195311914
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.16 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 9.1 x 6 x 0.8 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #822,638 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1,949 in General History of Religion
- #2,471 in History of Religions
- #16,694 in European History (Books)

Customer Reviews:
51 ratings

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2 star		2%
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The 3 Golden Ages of Spain.

Reviewed in the United States on May 1, 2018

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One of the best books I have read to date illustrating the 3-faith religions in Medieval Spain. It is an absolute fabulous writing by Chris Lowney. Lowney's historical writing illustrates how important Spain and how the regions of Castile, Aragon and Al-Andalus were to humanities evolvement from the European Dark Ages to the Renaissance. The author interweaves with exciting precision stories from the fall of the Visigoth Kingdom due to the Muslim invasion of 711, to Charlemagne and the epic "Song of Roland,", to the rise of the Umayyad, Almoravid, Almohad and Nasrid Dynasties in building the great cities of Cordoba, Seville and Granada leading Al-Andaluz as one of the greatest and prosperous intellectual regions in Europe that has not been met since! The author illustrates Santiago as both a "peregrino" and a 'matamoros" and how this medieval pilgrimage became "Europe's busiest Highway" (Camino de Santiago), in the 12th century when the Order of Santiago was created. Legends of the great hero El Cid are told along with many of the philosophers in the three Golden Ages of Spain (The Islamic Golden Age, The Jewish Golden Age and The New World Age) such as Maimonides, Ibn Arabi, Moses de Leon, Ibn Tufayl along with the Kings of Spain whom fought Islam, and Judaism throughout the century to culminate the arrival of the Catholic Monarchs-Ferdinand and Isabella. This will be one of your favorite historical books that you will reference for years to come.

8 people found this helpful

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Sue

History helps understand the present

Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2021

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I found this book enjoyable and easy to read. I was fascinated by the philosophies described, and what made the times unique for Spain and the surrounding world. It is a book that made me think deeply about religion, conflict, and reconciliation. I recommend "A Vanished World" very highly.

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Derek A. Wagener

Narrow Focus, Excellent Results

Reviewed in the United States on March 18, 2009

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This book is an excellent entry into the study of Medieval Spain and highlights key interactions between the Muslim, Christian, and Jewish factions within Feudal and Medieval Spain. This book avoided getting mired in the minutiae of Spanish history not relevant to the title subject. Modern historical comparisons are logically inserted. A respectable bibliography/Suggested Reading list is included. The book is very readable and enjoyable.

7 people found this helpful

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David von Storch

Thought-provoking, well-written, and remarkably balanced

Reviewed in the United States on May 19, 2010

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I read this book not as a scholar of Andalusia nor one of the history of monotheistic religions. I read this book becuase I was curious to learn more about about both the dynamic between Christians, Muslims and Jews in Spain during Moorish rule and how that might relate to how we can better understand the impact that fundamentalism in religion is having on our present-day inter-connected world.

We all read books through the lens of our own life experiences, so I find it interesting to read the points of view expressed in other reivews. I found this book to a much more balanced take on what happened (and the context in which it happened) than the other books that I have read on this subject. He is neither an aplogist for the Muslims nor does he carry the torch of martydom for the Jews. He helps to put into context what is not so easy to do. He explores subjects in a way that both informs the reader but does not over-romanticize the subject matter. Yet, to me, it was a fascinating read. He succeeded in striking a balance between retelling the countless and at times mind-numbing military scirmishes that often define our sense of what history is and discussing how religious thought was influenced by such events. More importantly, he showed me the link between how such great minds as Maimonedes, Moses de Leon, Averroes, and El Cid hailed from the same soil and how each had such a profound influence on reason, religion and its practice and the relationship between the two.

I recommend this book to anyone who has an intellectual curiosity to learn about religion, culture and history in Moorish Spain. I think we all would benefit from reading such books, particlularly ones that are so well written, organized and presented.

13 people found this helpful

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Zodiac

A wonderful account of the life in Iberia and and several ...

Reviewed in the United States on November 26, 2016

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A wonderful account of the life in Iberia and and several important figures who have been left out of the history books. Very fascinating and in-depth. The author is also very witty, which makes the read very enjoyable even if you're doing it for a class.

One person found this helpful

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Maria E. Alvarez

Thought provoking and enlightening

Reviewed in the United States on June 14, 2014

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Very engaging read on a unique time and place in history - when the Moors occupied Spain. I especially found this book helpful in advance of walking the Camino de Santiago. My journey was so much more enriched

5 people found this helpful

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TJM

A vanished world

Reviewed in the United States on April 6, 2013

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Great book. Loved it. It really encapsulated all of Spain from the beginning to end. Was a heavy read though so be warned.

One person found this helpful

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BRHJ67BR

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United States on May 27, 2015

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Very good.

One person found this helpful

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Rebekah Scott de Moratinos

superb

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 28, 2012

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This book provided invaluable, rich, and varied descriptions of life in Islamic Spain whilst I wrote The Moorish Whore set in that place and time. Many books of this type are dry academic tomes, but this one combines historic sweep with telling detail and excellent characterizations, too. It brings the period to life like a good novel, without sacrificing its academic credence.

2 people found this helpful

Carolyn L. Moir

Superb-Lowney is one of the best.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 28, 2013

Verified Purchase

Episodic history of Spain in the time of the Moors. very well-informed autor who writes well and aims to please. His writing is factual and infmormative. It si ahrd to put down if youa re a hsitory buff!

Dr. Michael Harscheidt

Wichtiger Baustein in der Geschichte Spaniens

Reviewed in Germany on January 27, 2010

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Es gibt nur eine Handvoll guter Bücher zum Thema Spanien im Mittelalter, das gleich im (Unter)Titel zum Hauptanliegen kommt: Muslime, Christen und Juden im mittelalterlichen Spanien. Es behandelt die Geschichte vom vorislamischen Spanien bis zum Auftreten von Columbus. Die Koexistenz von islamischer Kultur, jüdisch-kabbalistischer Entfaltung und Konstruktivität christlicher Toleranz, etwa in Toledo unter der fruchtbaren Regentschaft von Alfons VI. stehen im Mittelpunkt. Ein solches Nebeneinander von Moscheen, Synagogen und Kirchen, die friedfertigen Berührungen von sufischer Mystik und spekulativer Kabbala hat es danach (1492) kaum wieder gegeben. In der Buchmitte befinden sich 18 Seiten mit Schwarz-Weiß-Bildtafeln zur visuellen Ergänzung. Ein kleiner Nebeneffekt: Gelegentlich neigt der Autor zu ereignisgeschichtlichen Wiederholungen. Gleichwohl verdient das Buch alle Punkte.

3 people found this helpful

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Mary

... who was taking a trip and it was very useful to her

Reviewed in Canada on October 3, 2015

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I bought this for my daughter who was taking a trip and it was very useful to her.

M. Ruoff

Interreligiöses Zusammenleben ist möglich

Reviewed in Germany on December 13, 2009

Verified Purchase

Ein sehr gutes Buch. Es beschreibt was zwischen Kulturen und Religionen möglich war und was heute, in unserer aufgeklärten Zeit, wieder möglich sein sollte. Minarette sind nicht unbedingt von übel.

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