by Aaron Klein
First published 1993
Klein chronicles the epic span of Jewish civilization under Islamic rule in medieval Iberia. Beginning with the Muslim invasion of 711 C.E. at Gibraltar, this comprehensive historical survey traces the remarkable flowering of Sephardic culture through what scholars call the Golden Age of Spanish Jewry. The narrative follows diverse figures across the centuries: rabbinic scholars debating in academies, Jewish viziers navigating the caliph's court, poets crafting verse in Hebrew and Arabic, converts wrestling with identity, and intellectuals bridging Islamic and Jewish thought. Klein documents how Jewish communities thrived under Muslim tolerance, developing distinctive traditions in philosophy, poetry, and religious scholarship. The account concludes with the Christian reconquest of the 11th century, which began to transform the delicate balance that had allowed Jewish culture to flourish. Choice magazine praised this work as the most comprehensive survey of a magnificent historical period.
Genres: history, non-fiction, academic, jewish
Vibes: thought-provoking
Setting: Iberia, Moslem Spain
Period: 711 C.E., Middle Ages
690 pages · Paperback · JEWISH PUBLICATON SOCIETY