For nearly eight centuries, the Iberian peninsula was remarkable for its religious, cultural, linguistic, and ethnic diversity. This expanded second edition of Medieval Iberia brings together original sources that testify to its rich and sometimes volatile mix of Christians, Muslims, and Jews.
This post was originally written on our blog - Beyond The Wall.A “Euro Trip” might actually take the crown for being the most ‘bucket listed’ item in the world. From our 65 year old parents to our college-going cousins, everyone harbours the dream of a trip to the planet’s most visited continent. W...
Conquerors, Brides, and Concubines investigates the political and cultural significance of marriages and other sexual encounters between Christians and Muslims in the Iberian Peninsula, from the Islamic conquest in the early eighth century to the end of Muslim rule in 1492. Interfaith liaisons carried powerful resonances, as such unions could function as a tool of diplomacy, the catalyst for conversion, or potent psychological propaganda. Examining a wide range of source material including legal documents, historical narratives, polemical and hagiographic works, poetry, music, and visual art, Simon Barton presents a nuanced reading of the ways interfaith couplings were perceived, tolerated, or feared, depending upon the precise political and social contexts in which they occurred. Religious boundaries in the Peninsula were complex and actively policed, often shaped by an overriding fear of excessive social interaction or assimilation of the three faiths that coexisted within the region. Barton traces the protective cultural, legal, and mental boundaries that the rival faiths of Iberia erected, and the processes by which women, as legitimate wives or slave concubines, physically traversed those borders. Through a close examination of the realities and the imagination of interfaith relations, Conquerors, Brides, and Concubines highlights the extent to which sex, power, and identity were closely bound up with one another.
In the mountaintop village of Monsanto, Portugal, homes are sandwiched between, under and even in the 200-tonne rocks.
You've heard of Barcelona and Madrid, but Spain is such a wonderful and diverse country! Here are 10 hidden gems in Spain that you absolutely need to visit!
The following biographies of medieval Andalusi women are drawn from the Kitāb al-Ṣilah of Ibn Bashkuwal (d. 1183), the Takmilat Kitāb al-Ṣilah by Ibn al-Abbar (d. 1260), and the Kitāb Ṣilat al-Ṣila…
Although the area has been inhabited since ancient times, the foundation of the city now known as Madrid owes its origins to a small Roman settlement built on the banks of the Manzanares River call…
The fearsome reputation of the Vikings has made them the subject of countless exhibitions, books and films - however, surprisingly little is known about their more southerly exploits in Spain.
Planning a trip to Portugal? Here's the perfect 10 days In Portugal itinerary. There's nothing as romantic as an idyllic road trip through Portugal. Portugal stuns with its vintage-y cities, charming medieval villages, beautiful seacoast, and delicious food and wine. Top this all off with a dollop of historic UNESCO sites and some soulful Fado music, and you have the perfect sensual and cultural vacation.
Explore Howard Somerville's 3949 photos on Flickr!
Some images from Monsanto, where I'll be hanging my hat as a Writer-in-Residence in September. Needless to say, I'm looking forward to it.
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