Al-Andalusia, Essay Example

A reflection on this chapter about early Islamic political behavior in Spain will help me organize certain facts in my own mind with respect to the history. What follows are some of my thoughts, impressions, feelings, and questions regarding it?

One thing I felt was immediately interesting was that the history of the Islamic conquest of the Visigoths is scant on both sides. It stands to reason that the conquered were unable to record the events for posterity, but why had not the Muslim victors kept more accurate written records of the event; Or, if they had, where have they gone?

Another point if believe was well communicated was that the battle that halted Islamic Advances toward the Rhone between Frankish Tours and Pointier was not such a spectacular conquest as some historians would like to believe. Furthermore, from the Islamic perspective, the loss was that of burden more than that of anything else.

Still more compelling information was communicated in this rendition of the events. There racial strife between Arab and Berber Moors is similar to racial disparities within many political structures in many places, but it is more impactful here because the Islamic religion explicitly affirms the equality of the races.

Perhaps, this is the major lesson here. Ultimately, the Muslims ceased advancing into Frankish territory and redeployed out of al-Andalusia not so much because of external defeat but more because of internal imbalances – many of which could have been mitigated by adherence to the principles of their way of life.