A HISTORY OF SPAIN, Vol. 5) Caliphs and Kings - Spain, 796-1031 (2012)

Roger Collins, a leading historian, investigates a time in Spanish history known for its multi-religious society - when Christians, Jews and Muslims lived in apparent harmony - revealing a fuller, more complex picture of this fascinating period. * Presents new ideas and interpretations of a fascinating yet much misunderstood period of Spanish and Islamic history * A broad and complex treatment of the tenure of the Umayyad dynasty in Spain * Debunks myths and investigates the historiography of existing scholarship of the period Content: Chapter 1 Al?Andalus (pages 14–49): Chapter 2 The Asturian Kingdom (pages 50–82): Chapter 3 The Christians of al?Andalus (pages 83–103): Chapter 4 Monks, Books, and Saints in the Christian North (pages 104–120): Chapter 5 Al?Andalus (pages 121–137): Chapter 6 The Kingdom of Leon, 910–1037 (pages 138–165): Chapter 7 Al?Andalus (pages 166–204): Chapter 8 The Kingdom of Navarre and the Pyrenean Counties, 799–1035 (pages 205–237): Chapter 9 The County of Castile, c.860–1037 (pages 238–256): CALIPHS AND KINGS: SPAIN, 796-1031 The last twenty-five years have seen a renaissance of research and writing on Spanish history. Caliphs and Kings offers a formidable synthesis of existing knowledge as well as an investigation into new historical thinking, perspectives, and methods. The nearly three-hundred-year rule of the Umayyad dynasty in Spain (756-1031) has been hailed by many as an era of unprecedented harmony and mutual tolerance between the three great religious faiths in the Iberian Peninsula – Christianity, Judaism, and Islam – the like of which has never been seen since. And yet, as this book demonstrates, historical reality defies the myth. Though the middle of the tenth century saw a flowering of artistic culture and sophistication in the Umayyad court and in the city of Córdoba, this period was all too shortlived and localized. Eventually, twenty years of civil war caused the implosion of the Umayyad regime. It is through the forces that divided – not united – the disparate elements in Spanish society that we may best glean its nature and its lessons. Caliphs and Kings is devoted to better understanding those circumstances, as historian Roger Collins takes a fresh look at certainties, both old and new, to strip ninth- and tenth-century Spain of its mythic narrative, revealing the more complex truth beneath. Roger Collins, a leading historian, investigates a time inSpanish history known for its multi-religious society - when Christians, Jewsand Muslims lived in apparent harmony - revealing a fuller, more complexpicture of this fascinating period. Presents new ideas and interpretations of a fascinating yet much misunderstood period of Spanish and Islamic historyA broad and complex treatment of the tenure of the Umayyad dynasty in SpainDebunks myths and investigates the historiography of existing scholarship of the period Content:Chapter 1 Al Andalus (pages 14–49): Chapter 2 The Asturian Kingdom (pages 50–82): Chapter 3 The Christians of al?Andalus (pages 83–103): Chapter 4 Monks, Books, and Saints in the Christian North (pages 104–120): Chapter 5 Al Andalus (pages 121–137): Chapter 6 The Kingdom of Leon, 910–1037 (pages 138–165): Chapter 7 Al Andalus (pages 166–204): Chapter 8 The Kingdom of Navarre and the Pyrenean Counties, 799–1035 (pages205–237): Chapter 9 The County of Castile, c.860–1037 (pages 238–256) Al-andalus : War And Society, 796-888 -- The Asturian Kingdom : Chroniclers And Kings, 791-910 -- The Christians Of Al-andalus -- Monks, Books And Saints In The Christian North -- Al-andalus : Local Government Versus The Capital, 888-928 -- The Kingdom Of León, 910-1037 -- Al-andalus : Umayyad Triumph And Disaster, 912-1031 -- The Kingdom Of Navarre And The Pyrenean Counties, 799-1035 -- The County Of Castile, C. 860-1037. Roger Collins. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.