The Formation of al-Andalus, Part 2: Language, Religion, Culture and the Sciences (The Formation of the Classical Islamic World) - Tapa dura

'...packed with new perspectives from Spanish and other scholars on the achievements of civilization in Muslim Spain. For those interested in language, literature, theology, art, architecture, astronomy, mathematics, medicine or pharmacology, this is the place to delve.' Saudi Aramco World '... contains several hard to locate articles on language, religion, culture and the sciences during the formative period of al-Andalus. Also, [...] specialists on and students of al-Andalus who are not able to read Spanish and French [...] now have access to English translations of the articles.' Bibliotheca Orientalis

These two volumes present a conspectus of current research on the history and culture of early medieval Spain and Portugal, from the time of the Arab conquest in 711 up to the fall of the caliphate. They trace the impact of Islamisation on the pre-existing Roman and Visigothic political and social structures, the continuing interaction between Christian and Muslim, and describe the particular development and characteristics of Muslim Spain- al-Andalus. Together, they comprise 38 articles, of which 32 have been translated into English specially for this publication. The first volume focuses on political and social history, and looks in detail at settlement patterns and urbanisation; the second examines questions of language and covers the brilliant cultural and intellectual history of the period.