Legacy

Andalusians’ inquisitiveness for the exploration of new lands, exchange of cultures, and tolerance shaped the unique history of the Al-Andalus. Andalusian scholars and scientists made remarkable advances in scientific exploration, which planted the seeds for the European Renaissance and contributed to the current development in science. The number of contributions from the Andalusians is infinite and its culture has influenced the course of history, not only in Spain but guided modern societies like the US to become most successful civilization in the world. ​
 “Did you know that Cordoba became the center of learning for all of Europe? Non-Muslim and Muslim scholar and students from various parts of the world and Europe came to Cordoba to study. It is Muslim Spain which allowed the transition of sources to occur from Islam to the west thus laying the foundation and pillars for the scientific revolution and the Renaissance.”
​Stanley Lane-Poole-"The Moors in Spain"
“Any attempt to understand the history and culture of the Iberian Peninsula must take account of that incredible Islamic legacy.”
Richard Fletcher, Islamic Spain TV
“For nearly 8th century, under the Islamic rule, Spain set all Europe a shining example of a civilized and enlightened state.”
​Stanley Lane-Poole-"The Moors in Spain"
"In many ways the cultural and artistic achievements of this period still provide us today with valuable examples of productive interaction between different religious and ethnic groups in fields such as translation, economic and agricultural production, religious toleration and interaction and so forth.”
Professor Justin Stearns, NYU-Abu Dhabi,  an expert in Arab Crossroads Studies
Picture
(Courtesy of UNESCO)
“The brilliant Saracenic civilization of Moslem Spain rendered the Moors, even during their decline under Reyes de Taifas, the most cultured people of the west.”  C.W. Previte-Orton, “The Shorter Cambridge Medieval History”
​“Al- Andalus has become an ideal society that we should try to recreate today and finish all the tension between the religions what exist now a day. Let’s say that a beautiful idea good to have because when we think then human being has been able in certain moments of history to live peacefully together. That a model something we might fight for try to recreate again. Historical society never been perfect and Al-Andalus was not perfect but it has become the model of we should strive to achieve at least in our times.”  
Professor Maribel Fierro, an academic researcher of Middle Eastern Studies at the Spain’s National Research Council in Madrid.
"...To give some examples, we can see the impact in the food, the distribution of dishes, traditional cakes and pastries based in almond and honey, the coffee and rice consumption ―products that were introduced by the Andalusies―, or even the custom of throwing rice to the newly-weds as a symbol of fertility……. The traditional distribution of the houses, especially in Andalusia, the widespread use of the decorative tile (zellig in Arabic)… Constantly, we are using in our daily vocabulary words from Arabic origin!"
​Professor Almudena Ariza Armada, NYU Madrid, Spain, Medieval Al-Andalus History Expert.
Personal Interview with Professor Maribel Fierro, an academic researcher of Middle Eastern Studies at the Spain’s National Research Council in Madrid.     August 3, 2015​
Granada