An eight centuries mark : the Arab soul of Spain “All these qualities make Spain resemble God’s paradise. [...] No land can rival it in its advantages, nor can any equal the strength of its fortresses.” These words, written by the ninth- century Arab...
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An eight centuries mark : the Arab soul of Spain “All these qualities make Spain resemble God’s paradise. [...] No land can rival it in its advantages, nor can any equal the strength of its fortresses.” These words, written by the ninth- century Arab geographer Aḥmad al-Rāzī, constitute one of the earliest descriptions of Al- Andalus, the region of the Iberian Peninsula that remained under Muslim rule from 711 to 1492. Yet the history of this “earthly paradise” remains relatively little known across Europe. Indeed, the relationship between East and West cannot be reduced to a simplistic narrative. Beyond the images and representations that the West has constructed over time lies a deeply interconnected history. Misunderstanding, and sometimes even fear, have often obscured a fundamental reality: the profound influence of the Arab world on Western civilization. Present in countless aspects of everyday life, this influence frequently goes unnoticed. The purpose of this study is therefore
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