BEST·BOOKS

BOOK · [217]

The Ornament of the World: How Muslims, Jews and Christians Created a Culture of Tolerance in Medieval Spain cover

The Ornament of the World: How Muslims, Jews and Christians Created a Culture of Tolerance in Medieval Spain

Maria Rosa Menocal

History

Menocal's account of Andalusian culture at its peak — a civilization where Arabic, Hebrew, and Latin scholarship cross-pollinated to produce philosophy, poetry, and science that catalyzed the European Renaissance. Graham highlighted it as an obscure favorite; it is a study in what cosmopolitan intellectual tolerance can actually produce.

Endorsed By

1 PERSON
  • Paul Graham

    From PG's April 2019 tweet listing obscure favorites; Moorish Spain as a case study in cosmopolitan intellectual culture.

    x.com