Al-Andalus & The Birth of Christian #981045

From the dramatic escape of Abd al-Rahman I, the last surviving Umayyad prince, to the rise of the powerful Caliphate of Córdoba, this fourth book explores one of the most fascinating periods in the history of medieval Spain. The Golden Age of Al-Andalus & The Birth of Christian Resistance reveals how Córdoba became one of the most sophisticated cities of Europe, celebrated for its palaces, libraries, scholars, and political influence.

The book also examines the forces that challenged that brilliance from within and beyond its borders. The rebellion of Umar ibn Hafsun, the monumental splendor of Madinat al-Zahra, the intellectual legacy of al-Hakam II, the devastating raids of Almanzor, and the civil war that destroyed the caliphate all shaped a complex and divided peninsula. As Al-Andalus fragmented into the taifa kingdoms, Christian resistance grew stronger in the north through figures such as Pelayo, the kings of León, and Fernando I, whose conquest of Coimbra marked a decisive shift in the balance of power.