Was Spain the Jewel of Europe when Muslims ruled it for 800 years ?

Question

Stanley Lane-Poole in ‘The Moors in Spain’: Introduction.


"For nearly eight centuries, under the Mohamedan rule, Spain set all Europe a shining example of a civilized and enlightened state. Her fertile provinces rendered doubly prolific, by the industrious engineering skill of the conquerors bore fruit a hundredfold, cities innumerable sprang up in the rich valleys in the Guadalquivir and the Guadiana whose names, and names only commemorate the vanished glories of their past.
"...To Cordoba belong all the beauty and ornaments that delight the eye or dazzle the sight. Her long line of Sultans form her crown of glory; her necklace is strung with the pearls which her poets have gathered from the ocean of language; her dress is of the banners of learning, well-knit together by her men of science; and the masters of every art and industry are the hem of her garments.

"Art, literature and science prospered as they then prospered nowhere else in Europe...

"Mathematics, astronomy, botany, history, philosophy and jurisprudence were to be mastered in Spain, and Spain alone. Whatever makes a kingdom great and prosperous, whatever tends to refinement and civilization, was found in Muslim Spain...

"With Granada fell all Spain's greatness. For a brief while, indeed, the reflection of the Moorish splendour cast a borrowed light upon the history of the land which it had once warmed with its sunny radiance. The great epoch of Isabella, Charles V and Philip II, of Columbus, Cortes and Pizarro, shed a last halo about the dying monuments of a mighty state. When followed the abomination of dissolution, the rule of inquisition and the blackness of darkness in which Spain has been plunged ever since.

"In the land where science was once supreme, the Spanish doctors became noted for nothing but their ignorance and incapacity. The arts of Toledo and Almeria faded into insignificance.

"The land deprived of skillful irrigation of the Moors, grew improvished and neglected, the richest and most fertile valleys languished and were deserted, and most of the populous cities which had filled every district in Andalusia, fell into ruinous decay; and beggars, friars, and bandits took the place of scholars, merchants and knights. So low fell Spain when she had driven away the Moors. Such is the melancholy contrast offered by her history."

Answer 1

I think it's a matter of opinion.

Answer 2

If i were a Christian I would not have wanted to live in Northern Europe or Western Europe at all a 100 yrs ago,including Muslim parts of Spain. I also would not have wanted to live under Muslim rule anywhere,but I would have probably prefered that to lawlessness or gangnsterism in Europe.
Of course, today the Islamic World is not a jewel of the world in learning,,justice,tolerance,compassionate and merciful religiosity,harmony among Muslims or others,equality and the like. Modern Saudi Arabia is more like Post-Moorish Spain than Moorish Spain. There were also the Almoravidin in Spain who expelled Jews and Christians and compelled "conversion"long before the Spanish Inquisition and Queen Isabella learned from them.

Answer 3

You fail to mention the massacres and atrocities that were committed.
In 920 CE, all the inhabitants of Muez were put to the sword. Cordoba, Zarajoza, and Merida were burned to the ground, with all adult men killed and all women and children enslaved.
In 1066 CE, all the Jews of Grenada were killed.
In 1126, all the Christians of Grenada were deported to Morocco.
Where do you think the Spanish Inquisition learned their zeal from? Their conflict with the Moors.

Answer 4

All that is supposed to be true. But why is it that the lowly Spainards were able to throw out the great and wonderful moors. And that only after the moors were ousted did the Spanish discover the new world and save for the Armada disaster may have conquered all of Europe. Something the great and wonderful Moors attempted but failed to do.

Answer 5

Yes, during the Middle Ages the Muslim world was wealthier and more advanced than the Christian world.

Europe only became the most advanced civilization around the 1400s. Generally, through history before that, the Orient was wealthier and more advanced.

Answer 6

Salaam, I dont deny what you're asserting , it replaced into authentic. yet : difficulty now could be that the wealth owned with the aid of Arabs ( Saudi's and the Emirates) that are so satisfactory, i replaced into instructed it fairly is all controlled with the aid of the Jews. They gave to and believe the Jews to administration it. So, enable us to communicate approximately at present, who're we at present, we cant stay in the previous, it fairly is surpassed. no remember how sturdy we've been, greater significant who we are at present. Our prophet s.a.w.did say : we'd desire to continually have a greater advantageous day at present study to the day merely before this. I continually ask your self a thank you to make it befell, for particular no longer with the aid of dreaming , no longer with the aid of scuffling with one yet another and not purely with the aid of telling tale approximately our ancestors. yet we'd desire to continually discover out : What did the muslims do this made them so powerfull and super , how did they behave, who replaced into the chief, how did he take care of? All of that would desire to be seen with the aid of the greater youthful such as you and all the rest. So, awaken! If to learn we've problems in the Western u . s . and so under pressure in some u . s . , even although i'm no longer Malaysian yet i've got self assurance, Malaysia is a sturdy place for whom who seek for for sturdy training. The muslim environment is average yet fairly adequate. Muslims replaced into respected in the previous, for exceedingly much each and every little thing and for sturdy habit besides. They weren't puppets and that they governed in justice. They worked no longer difficulty-free in sciences besides as in engaging in Islam in the superb and sharp way. Salaam

Answer 7

Yes, and Islam lived very peacefully side by side with the Jews. Never a problem.

Answer 8

True.
In those days, Islam was open to the influence of other cultures, and the exchange of ideas between Muslims, Christians, and Jews resulted in the flourishing of all three cultures.
Unfortunately, nowadays Muslims are not open to the exchange of ideas. The vocal radical Muslims seek to annihilate all non-Muslims.

Answer 9

yes, i am from Cordoba and there was a time in Spain...pre catholic madness when people belonging to different cultures lived in here but then the catholics arrived and they stopped all that...bad thing they (catholics) manage to survive for a very long time, even now they are among us

Answer 10

Thank you for telling the truth......Spain is still a poor country...it got a little better after the had the olympics there...it's sad--it is quite beautiful.