Reply #62: History of Spain prior to Reconquest [View All]

[genie_weenie]

Okay, the problem with your retort is this is a thread about *current* intolerance.

If you would like to start a historical thread pointing out the various evils of civilization A, B or C, please feel free. Then we could tally up which civilization had the most pogroms, genocides, wars of conquest and we could crown a worst offender.

However, I also feel I must counter your historical facts because they are slightly wrong. The Moorish Spain is *NOT* considered the Golden Age, that was well before.

Muslim conquerors invaded Spain, destroying the indigenous Vandal and Visigothic Tribal nation states, but were repulsed at Tours (current France) in 732. During years of 800-1200 Cordoba WAS one of the greatest cities in the Muslim world. Muslim Spain was pluralistic (with Jews being the key, because they were the great translators of Greek/Latin to Arabic), tolerant and cutting edge on many of the sciences and engineering. It also produced one of the great Medieval philosopher, Averroes (d. 1198). A main work by Averroes, was named Destruction of the Destruction and was a response to a writing of a rigid orthodox Muslim who wanted to do away with all philosophy and independent thought because all necessary truth is contained in the Koran. Unfortunately, for Averroes, his backer, the ruler Yaqub Al-Mansur began to get pressure from the muslim religious orthodox and pulled his support for Averroes publishing an edict which declared that Allah decreed hell-fire for those who believe truth could be discovered by unaided reason (i.e. without the Koran).

It was in the 1200s, when the Berbers, who were newly converted to the *one true faith* and filled with fanaticism and ignorance swept over Spain ending it's Golden Age by destroying many of the tolerant views the Muslim rulers had previously set up.

This prompted a counter-fanaticism with brought about many of the evils by the church, Spanish Inquisition, forced conversations or loss of property and money.

Anyway, my point has been this whole cartoon issue has been manipulated by rulers of Muslim nations to further their agendas.