| _version_ | 1866901750499246080 |
|---|---|
| author | Revista, Zen HISTORY, 10 |
| author_facet | Revista, Zen HISTORY, 10 |
| contents | The concept of convivencia in Al-Andalus, representing a harmonious co-existence of Muslims, Christians, and Jews, has long captivated scholarly and popular imagination. Often romanticized as a golden age of interfaith tolerance and cultural flourishing, this narrative merits rigorous historical scrutiny. This paper aims to deconstruct the idealized myth of convivencia by examining the material realities of Al-Andalus from the zenith of the Cordoban Caliphate to the eventual fall of Granada. Through a critical analysis of political, social, economic, and religious dynamics, we will demonstrate that while periods of significant cultural exchange and pragmatic co-existence undoubtedly occurred, they were frequently underpinned by hierarchies, intermittent persecution, and the constant threat of conflict. The paper argues that a nuanced understanding reveals convivencia not as a monolithic state of peaceful pluralism, but as a complex, often fragile, and continually contested social arrangement driven by political expediency and economic necessity, ultimately deteriorating under internal strife and external pressures. By challenging the simplistic romanticization, this study seeks to provide a more accurate and comprehensive portrayal of Al-Andalus's intricate history, acknowledging its profound intellectual and artistic contributions alongside the inherent tensions and hierarchies that defined its multi-religious society. |
| format | Recurso digital |
| id | zenodo_https___doi_org_10_5281_zenodo_17782274 |
| institution | Zenodo |
| language | |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publisher | Zenodo |
| record_format | zenodo |
| spellingShingle | The Myth and Materiality of Convivencia: Al-Andalus from Cordoban Grandeur to Granadan Fall Revista, Zen HISTORY, 10 The concept of convivencia in Al-Andalus, representing a harmonious co-existence of Muslims, Christians, and Jews, has long captivated scholarly and popular imagination. Often romanticized as a golden age of interfaith tolerance and cultural flourishing, this narrative merits rigorous historical scrutiny. This paper aims to deconstruct the idealized myth of convivencia by examining the material realities of Al-Andalus from the zenith of the Cordoban Caliphate to the eventual fall of Granada. Through a critical analysis of political, social, economic, and religious dynamics, we will demonstrate that while periods of significant cultural exchange and pragmatic co-existence undoubtedly occurred, they were frequently underpinned by hierarchies, intermittent persecution, and the constant threat of conflict. The paper argues that a nuanced understanding reveals convivencia not as a monolithic state of peaceful pluralism, but as a complex, often fragile, and continually contested social arrangement driven by political expediency and economic necessity, ultimately deteriorating under internal strife and external pressures. By challenging the simplistic romanticization, this study seeks to provide a more accurate and comprehensive portrayal of Al-Andalus's intricate history, acknowledging its profound intellectual and artistic contributions alongside the inherent tensions and hierarchies that defined its multi-religious society. |
| title | The Myth and Materiality of Convivencia: Al-Andalus from Cordoban Grandeur to Granadan Fall |
| url | https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17782274 |