The middle years of the fourteenth century were filled with violent upheaval caused by domestic and foreign wars, family hatreds, the plague, and changing social conditions. Do you need to know about Spain previous to reading this book? By treating states together, he is able to put into proper perspective the relationships among them, their similarities and differences, and the continuity of development from one period to the next. We’d love your help. Medieval Spain is brilliantly recreated, in all its variety and richness, in this comprehensive survey. Territorial expansion created kingdoms with marked internal differences of language, customs, laws, religion, and race. The Leonese concept of empire,... Several major changes affected the population of the peninsula during the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. Try logging in through your institution for access. The Medieval era of Spain stretches out over a thousand years of history: from the end of the Roman Empire and the invasion of the Visigoths in the 5th century, through the Muslim invasions and the Reconquest, and up to the combined crowns of Ferdinand and Isabella in 1479, and Professor O'Callaghan guides us through that long and tumultuous saga with a workmanlike narrative that concentrates on the political aspects of Spain, by which he includes all the Christian kingdoms, including Portugal, as well as the Islamic kingdoms. And don't forget the Muslims with a parade of Muhammads, Ibns, Yusufs, Abds, etc. The Christian states intensified their relations with northern Europe, especially with France and the papacy, in every way and entered the mainstream of European civilization. The Almohads never fully recovered from the staggering blow suffered at Las Navas de Tolosa in 1212, and as a result, in the years following, conspiracies, rebellions, and civil wars were chronic among the Muslims of al-Andalus and Morocco. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. Well, this seemed like a textbook and in fact it is a textbook, 'suitable for the undergraduate or graduate student seeking a reliable orientation to medieval peninsular history', according to the back cover. Tutti i risultati di Google Ricerca Libri ». One of the best history books I've ever read. Encompasses everything so much that it reads in piecemeal fashion. You do not have access to this Granted, I wouldn't read it if I didn't have to for school though. Vandals, Alans, and Suevi occupied the south, west, and north early in the century bringing war and destruction to the Hispano-Romans who seemed incapable of defending themselves. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of, Published It should be noted that not all the Muslims were of the Almoravid variety and periods of relative tolerance existed on both sides of the divide. The disintegration of al-Andalus into numerous petty kingdoms coincided with the ascendancy of Sancho el mayor, king of Navarre, who extended his rule over Aragon and Castile and even occupied León for a brief time. The eleventh century was a period of transition characterized by the integration of Christian Spain into western Christendom and by the political restructuring of al-Andalus. Recovering from the blows they had received from both external and internal foes, the Umayyads restored order to the peninsula and established hegemony over the Christian states. At the end of the century the Visigoths, the most powerful of the tribes to enter Spain, began to settle in Old Castile where their presence has been evident ever after in place names, racial structure, and customary law. One of the best history books I've ever read. Two great battles, the one an extraordinary victory for the Muslims at Alarcos, the other an equally important triumph for the Christians, highlighted the struggle for dominion. Many Muslims, however, preferred to leave their ancestral homes to settle in Granada or even to withdraw to North Africa. The conquest of Spain early in the eighth century marked the culmination of nearly a century of Muslim expansion. Well, this seemed like a textbook and in fact it is a textbook, 'suitable for the undergraduate or graduate student seeking a reliable orientation to medieval peninsular history', according to the back cover. The sheer number of Pedros, Alfonsos, Juans, Fernandos, Carlos, Jamies, Sanchos and other repetitive king names (and occasional Juanas, Leonors and Jeannes among the ladies) ruling, trying to rule, or overthrowing the various major empires (often simultaneously in different adjacent emprires with the same names)--Navarre, Leon, Castile, Aragon, Catalonia and Portugal, often becomes dizzying. The remarkable success of the reconquest resulted in the incorporation of large numbers of Muslims and Jews into the Christian states. Joseph F. O'Callaghan is Professor Emeritus of History at Fordham University. A History of Medieval Spain. While it may be getting a little dated, its narrative of the development of the kingdoms, societies and cultures of the region holds together thanks to Joseph O'Callaghan's clarity and his command of the sources. The authority of the emperor in the provinces of southern Gaul and northern Spain was replaced by that of... For nearly three centuries the Visigoths dominated the political structure of the peninsula, but they were never more than a minority of the total population. But as long as you take the time to read it carefully, it really is a great book. August 31st 1983 This book, however thick it is, is just an invitation to pick your favorite stories and go deep on them later on, in other books. Regionalism not only complicated and weakened the internal organization of kingdoms, but also thwarted attempts to bring about the union of kingdoms with one another. There were times my eyes glossed over and fortunately there is no test coming from Professor O'Callaghan! Knights, monks, pilgrims, merchants, artisans, and scholars came from the lands north of the Pyrenees, sometimes in search of novelty and adventure, but more often to settle and to make a new life for themselves. I picked a lot of interesting subjects myself that I can't wait to find the right book to go into deeper. As a symbol of the new order Abd al-Rahman III reclaimed the title of caliph lost by the dynasty... From the beginning of the period of Muslim conquest al-Andalus was but a province in an empire ruled by the caliph of Damascus, an empire extending from the borders of India to the straits of Gibraltar. Welcome back. book Protests against the established order and authorities occurred in most parts of Europe, taking the form of peasant revolts, proletarian uprisings, aristocratic revolutions, dynastic quarrels, and ecclesiastical rebellions. Joseph F. O'Callaghan is Professor Emeritus of Medieval History at Fordham University, where he has taught since 1954. Within each section there is an extensive historical summary (often with plot lines that could make 20 'Game of Thrones' series). Also, if that book aspires to cover all aspects of the. Book Description: Medieval Spain is brilliantly recreated, in all its variety and richness, in this comprehensive survey. on JSTOR. By 740 their forces were withdrawn from the northwest, and by 751 they were driven from Narbonne by Pepin the Short. Though unable to reconquer Toledo, Zaragoza, or Lisbon, they inflicted great damage upon the Christian states and kept them almost continually on the defensive.