A gifted author and historian chronicles an astonishing age of culture, commerce, and scientific innovation in multicultural Spain--during the seven-century epoch before Columbus set sail in 1492 Are Muslims, Christians, and Jews forever locked in a cycle of violence and resentment? Chris Lowney engages these questions by chronicling medieval Spain's impossibly panoramic history. PREFACE 1(4) INTRODUCTION 5(124) 1. Spain Before Islam 15(14) 2. The Moors Conquer Spain 29(14) "Our God and Your God Is One" 3. Santiago Discovered in the Field of Stars 43(12) 4. Martyr-Activists 55(16) Determined to Die in a City "Piled Full of Riches" 5. The Pope Who Learned Math from Muslim Spain 71(8) 6. Europe's Busiest Highway 79(14) 7. A Jewish General in a Muslim Kingdom 93(10) "I Am the David of My Age" 8. The Frontier 103(16) Jihad, Crusades, Cowboys, and Sheep 9. Charlemagne 119(10) "God, How Wearisome My Life Is" 10. El Cid 129(14) "Born in a Fortunate Hour" 11. The Second Moses and Medieval Medicine 143(14) 12. Rethinking Religion 157(8) "To Long with an Exceeding Longing" 13. A Muslim Commentator Enlightens Christendom 165(12) "You who Have Eyes to See, Reflect!" 14. Sufism 177(6) "My Heart Has Become Capable of Every Form" 15. The Kabbalah 183(8) An Instrument for Peace in the World" 16. Fernando III 191(8) "Who Broke and Destroyed All His Enemies" 17. A Common Life Shared Among Three Faiths 199(10) "Damnable Mixing" 18. Alfonso the Learned King 209(18) 19. The End of Spanish Judaism 227(20) "The Razor That Rips the Membrane of My Aching Heart" 20. Columbus, a New World, and the End of History 247(16) A Deed Forbidden by Every Faith" EPILOGUE 263(6) ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 269(2) NOTES 271(28) SUGGESTED READING 299(8) CREDITS 307(2) INDEX 309