Conquerors, Brides, and Concubines: Interfaith Relations and Social Power in Medieval Iberia (The Middle Ages Series)

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. Simon Barton is Professor of History at the University of Exeter and author of A History of Spain. 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.-- Sex As Power -- Marking Boundaries -- Damsels In Distress -- Lust And Love On The Iberian Frontier -- Appendix. The Privilegio Del Voto. Simon Barton. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 219-254) And Index.

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.

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.-- Provided by Publisher Cover 1 Contents 8 Introduction 12 Chapter 1. Sex as Power 24 Chapter 2. Marking Boundaries 56 Chapter 3. Damsels in Distress 87 Chapter 4. Lust and Love on the Iberian Frontier 121 Conclusion 154 Appendix. The Privilegio del Voto 164 List of Abbreviations 176 Notes 178 Selected Bibliography 230 Index 266 A 266 B 267 C 267 D 268 E 268 F 268 G 269 H 269 I 269 J 269 K 270 L 270 M 270 N 271 O 271 P 271 Q 271 R 271 S 272 T 272 U 273 V 273 W 273 X 273 Y 273 Z 273 Acknowledgments 274 Report on research into employment policy in respect of Blacks in railway transport in the USA - covers historical aspects of discrimination, equal employment opportunity and promotion (incl. For the negro woman worker) in the occupational structure, recent employment trends, trade union and government policy, recruitment, etc., and comments on relevant labour legislation. References and statistical tables 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