Reflection 2

Dr. Devany’s guest lecture illustrated just how extensive and varied Islamic influence has been in Spain, along with the history of the country which I was largely unaware of. It seems to me that in the end the situation in Spain just degenerated into a tangled mess of Muslims and Christians fighting each other as well as amongst themselves. In terms of beneficial cultural enhancements, I learned that irrigation, during The Green Revolution, was brought to Spain by its Muslim population, allowing more produce like oranges, lemons, and other citrus fruits to be grown there in its relatively hot and dry climate. Additionally, the Islamic population contributed to society the creation of chess and the astrolabe, as well as other advances in astronomy. There was an increase in learning as demonstrated by the large amount of libraries there. Cordoba was a very advanced city for its time and the capital of Spain while under Muslim rule. Its libraries held 400,000 books each, comparable to modern day libraries and vastly more than any in the rest of Europe. Cordoba was also progressive with its paved roads lit with streetlamps. A notable ruler, Alphonso the 10th, brought together a diverse group of Jewish, Christian, and Islamic scholars to translate various texts from their own language into the common tongue. This speaks not only to his love of learning but also to his tolerance and the atmosphere of religious tolerance in the city. In terms of architecture, Medina az-Zahra and the famous mosque Mezquita are stunning achievements that still stand and attract multitudes of visitors today. Various kinds of arches and decorative geometric patterns also added to the beauty of the cities and streets of Spain.