Books on Medieval Spain

I tried to post this earlier but guess it did not get through. I have been reading some books on Medieval Spanish history, particularly on the three religions and how they coexisted. (Like a good librarian!)

I recommend either of these two books:

The Ornament of the World-How Muslims, Jews and Christians Created a Culture of Tolerance in Medieval Spain by Maria Rosa Menoca, 2002

A good overview. Focuses on the South. Stories of the people are wonderful: El Cid, Maimonides, Don Quixote, Moses of Leon, Averroes, Heloise, Arabian Nights, etc.

A Vanished World: Medieval Spain's Golden Age of Enlightenment by Chris Lowney. 22005

Another overview with stories of individuals. Goes up to Christopher Columbus and talks about the Golden Age for each faith.

Quote from Ibn Arabi, A Sufi mystic and writer, 1165-1240

"My heart has become capable of every form, it is a pasture for gazelles and a convent for Christian monks and a temple for idols and the pilgrim's Ka'ba and the Tables of the Torah and the book of the Quran. I follow the religion of Love."

Jacquelyn Marie