Dear J. Grant L,
Between 680 and 1491/2, the Islamic Empire expended from its origin in
Arabia to India and China on the East, Northern Africa and the "Sahel"
(=the area between Northern Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Chad, Niger, Mali
and Mauritania, meaning "shore" in Arabic, as in the "shores" of the
Sahara) to the south and the Caucasus - and Spain - to the North.
In these areas, there had been great innovations in science, arts,
philosophy and culture. This was not limited only to Muslims, but also
to the minorities who lived under the Empire as "Dhimies" (see my
previous answer to you - "The Qu'ran's attitude toward the Jews?"
<http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=266036>).
Scheindlin writes (2000) that "Most of the Jews in the world were now
inhabitants of a single Islamic empire stretching from the Indus River
in the east to the Atlantic Ocean in the west, including Spain. This
development brought the Jews of Palestine, Egypt, and Spain nearly
instant relief from the persecutions, harassment, and humiliation that
they endured under hostile Christian rule. It also brought them, for
the first time since the beginning of the Diaspora, into a single
cultural, economic, and political system. Both these new conditions
would enable them to flourish and to create the most successful Jewish
Diaspora community of premodern times." (Scheindlin, A Short History
of the Jewish People Oxford University Press, 2000)
Jews enjoyed, throughout most of that period, a cultural, theological
and social success. In Baghdad, the early period was called the period
of the Excellencies, the "Ge'onim". They formed Jewish academies in
Iraq in the 10th century, spreading a unification of theological
thought. In fact, Jews call this period "The Golden Age/Era" (in
Hebrew: "Tor Ha-Zahav") in Andelusia (11th to 14th-15th century).
The most prominent theologian of the period, and one of the most
influential Jewish philosophers (having an impact on, among others,
Aquinas) - Maimonides (1125-1204) - lived under Islam. Maimonides was
a true Renaissance man (excuse me for the usage of this Europeanised
term): he was also a scientist (medical doctor), political advisor,
and of course - theologian.
Other major Medieval Jewish personalities of this time period include
Judah Halevi (poet, philosopher), Ibn Ezra (theologian), Moses deLeon
(Mystician), among many others.
HaLevi (1075-1141), a political philosopher, theologian and a poet,
wrote a book, called the The Book of the Khazars. In this book, he
discusses - within the frame of a story about a kingdom of non-Jews
seeking a religion to convert to, the principles of religious
tolerance and dialogue, and of course, the viability of Jewish
political thought (how to rule as a Jew). HaLevi later (1140) rejected
Jewish-Andelusian culture - the fact that they enjoyed their lives in
the Diaspora, and acted according to his own poetry: "My heart is in
the east, and I in the uttermost west". On 1140 he set for Jerusalem,
staying for a while in Egypt, where he was a popular poet and
lyricist.
These are cultural developments, but other types of developments
should be also mentioned. Theologically, the abovementioned and many
others have made reforms in Rabbinical Judaism. On the 9th and 10th
century, the first rabbinical academies were established in Iraq. At
the same time, an anti-Rabbinical movement developed under the Islamic
rule: the Karaites, especially in Egypt.
However, although the culture and language were unified (which created
communicative mobility), this doesn't mean that the treatment of the
Jews was similar all over, or that Jews suffered no persecution under
Islamic rule. In the 12th century, a fanatical Berber sect ruled
Morocco (1140-1148), and later also Spain, discriminating and
persecuting Jews. Consequently, Jews fled to Egypt, most prominently
Maimonides himself. In Yemen, Jews were forced (1198-1201) to convert
to Islam. In other regions - namely in the Mongolian ruled areas in
Mesopotamia, Jews were also forced to convert.
Sources - Secondary
===================
You will see that I quote a lot from a site called "My Jewish
Learning", which is very useful, and full of academic, clear,
articles, on those subjects.
S. Alfassa-Marks, "The Jews of Islamic Spain" Sephardic Sages
<http://www.sephardicsages.org/hispania.html> - The Website is a
religious Website, ran by Sephardic Jews. The article is interesting
and referenced, but should be handled with caution when cited.
Barnavi, Eli "Jewish Scientists and Physicians in the Middle Ages"
Could be read online at My Jewish Learning Network Website
<http://www.myjewishlearning.com/history_community/Medieval/MedievalCultureTO/Scientists.htm>
----------- "The Geonim Period"
<http://www.myjewishlearning.com/history_community/Medieval/MedThoughtTO/GeonimPeriod.htm>.
---------- "Karaim" <http://www.myjewishlearning.com/history_community/Medieval/MedThoughtTO/TheKaraites.htm>
Baskin, Judith, Jewish Women in the Muslim World.
<http://www.myjewishlearning.com/history_community/Medieval/MedievalSocialTO/WomenIntro/MuslimWomen.htm>
<http://www.myjewishlearning.com/history_community/Medieval/MedievalSocialTO/WomenIntro/MuslimWomenII.htm>
Menachem Ben-Sasson, "North African and Egypt" Could be read online at
My Jewish Learning Network Website
<http://www.myjewishlearning.com/history_community/Medieval/TheStory6321666/TheIslamicWorld/Maghreb.htm>
Mark R. Cohen, Jewish Self-Government in Medieval Egypt: The Origins
of the Office of Head of the Jews, ca. 1065-1126. Princeton, 1980.
----- Under Crescent & Cross: The Jews in the Middle Ages, Princeton
University Press, 1994 - This is one of the most important books in
the field. The first one you should read.
------- Another article: "Muslim-Jewish relations in the Middle Ages"
<http://www.myjewishlearning.com/history_community/Medieval/IntergroupTO/JewishMuslim.htm>
The Foundation For The Advancement of Sephardic Studies and Culture,
"Four Reviews on Stephen Birmingham's Book: THE GRANDEES"
<http://www.sephardicstudies.org/grandees-intro.html>.
"The Jews of Medieval Islam, Community, Society, Identity: Proceedings
of an International Conference held by the Institute of Jewish
Studies, University College, London, 1992" edited by Daniel Frank.
Review article on this book:
Reuven Firestone "-" _Journal of the American Oriental Society_June 1999.
Jacob, Louis, "Maimonides"
<http://www.myjewishlearning.com/history_community/Medieval/MedThoughtTO/Maimonides.htm>
--------- "Caro" <http://www.myjewishlearning.com/history_community/Medieval/MedThoughtTO/Caro.htm>
Jane S. Gerber, The Jews of Spain: A History of the Sephardic
Experience, Free Press, 1992
--------- "Jewish Commerce in Muslim Lands" Also from My Jewish
Education <http://www.myjewishlearning.com/history_community/Medieval/MedievalSocialTO/CommerceIntro/MuslimCommerce.htm>
S. D. Goitein, G. E. v. G. C. f. Near and Eastern Studies . A
Mediterranean society: the Jewish communities of the Arab world as
portrayed in the documents of the Cairo Genizah. Berkeley, Calif.:
University of California Press. 1967.
Katrin Kogman-Appel , "Hebrew manuscript painting in the late medieval
Spain: Signs of a culture in transition", _The Art Bulletin_; New
York; Jun 2002 (available from ProQuest) - on Jewish arts under the
Muslims.
Konvitz, Milton R., "Natural law and Judaism: The case of Maimonides"
Judaism; Winter 1996 (available from ProQuest).
Bernard Lewis The Jews of Islam Princeton University Press.
Mann, Jacob, The Jews in Egypt and Palestine during the Fatimid
Caliphs. 2 vols. Oxford, 1920-22 and New York, 1970.
Maria Rosa Menocal, The Ornament of the World: How Muslims, Jews and
Christians Created a Culture of Tolerance in Medieval Spain Back Bay
Books, 2003. - her theory, as you could understand from the title, is
that a culture of tolerance was created in Medieval Spain, throughout
the Muslim period (until the Reconquista).
J. J. Petuchowski . Theology and poetry: studies in the medieval
piyyut. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul. 1978.
Norman Roth, Medieval Jewish Civilization: An Encyclopedia (Routledge
Encyclopedias of the Middle Ages, V. 7), Routledge: 2003. The article
"Jews in the Medieval Islamic Empire", By Marc R. Cohen, could be read
online at My Jewish Learning Network Website
<http://www.myjewishlearning.com/history_community/Medieval/TheStory6321666/TheIslamicWorld.htm>;
another article, on language, also by Cohen, is at the same site
<http://www.myjewishlearning.com/history_community/Medieval/MedievalCultureTO/Poetry.htm>.
--------- "Jewish Education in Muslim Lands" Also from MY Jewish Education
<http://www.myjewishlearning.com/history_community/Medieval/MedievalSocialTO/MuslimEd.htm>
Howard M. Sachar "From Golden to Grim: Jewish Life in Muslim Spain",
from Farewell Espana: The World of the Sephardim Remembered,
published by Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. Could be read online at My Jewish
Learning Network Website
<http://www.myjewishlearning.com/history_community/Medieval/TheStory6321666/TheIslamicWorld/Spain.htm>
Raymond P Scheindlin, "Spanish Hebrew Poetry and the Arabic Literary
Tradition: Arabic Themes in Hebrew Andalusian Poetry" _Journal of the
American Oriental Society_ Jan-Mar 1997 (The article could be read
electronically on Xanedu or ProQuest Direct). (Review Article)
------ , A Short History of the Jewish People (Oxford University
Press, 2000), pp. 71-96 and 123-46. [Available (partially) online at
The Jewish Theological Seminary Website,
<http://learn.jtsa.edu/topics/reading/bookexc/scheindlin_shorthistory/chap4.shtml>].
Norman A. Stillman, The Jews of Arab Lands: A History and Source Book,
Jewish Publication Society, 1979 - another classic that you should
read.
University of Calgary "Bibliography for Research in Medieval Rabbinic
Judaism" <http://www.ucalgary.ca/~elsegal/RelS_365/Medieval_Rabbinic_Bibl.html>.
Some information on Moses deLeon in English could be found in books
about Kabbalah, like:
Gershom Scholem, On the Mystical Shape of the Godhead : Basic Concepts
in the Kabbalah (Tel Aviv: Shoken Books) in pp. 102, 182, 214, 215,
265, 282.
Judah HaLevi's philosophical and political thought is well researched,
also in English:
Yochanan Silman , Philosopher and Prophet: Judah Halevi, the Kuzari,
and the Evolution of His Thought (Suny Series in Judaica) State
University of New York Press, 1995.
Menocal mentions HaLevi extensively in her book: pp. 155, 158-170. 172
Primary Material
================
Aaron ha-Levi of Barcelona (13th cent) and C. Wengrov (transl.). The
Hinukh. 1978. - Halachaic (Jewish Law) commentator, from the "Golden
Age" of Spain.
Jehudah HaLevi, Selected Poems of Jehudah Halevi (Ayer Press).
-------------, original notes (scan) Cambridge University , The
Taylor-Schechter Genizah Research Unit
<http://www.lib.cam.ac.uk/Taylor-Schechter/T-S8J18_5S.html>
Maimonides, original notes (scan) Cambridge University , The
Taylor-Schechter Genizah Research Unit
<http://www.lib.cam.ac.uk/Taylor-Schechter/T-S12_192S.html>
------------ The 13 Principles and the Resurrection of the Dead,
Fordham University, Medieval Sourcebook
<http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/rambam13.html>
------------ The Laws and Basic Principles of the Torah, Fordham
University, Medieval Sourcebook
<http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/rambam-yesodei-hatorah.txt>
------------ Oath of Maimonides, Fordham University, Medieval
Sourcebook <http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/rambam-oath.html>.
L. Nemoy . Karaite anthology: excerpts from the early literature.
Translated from Arabic, Aramaic, and Hebrew sources, with notes. 1952.
Raymond P Scheindlin (trans. and ed.), WINE, WOMEN RC DEATH: MEDIEVAL
HEBREW POEMS ON THE GOOD LIFE. Jewish Publication Society.
Sephardic Sages Website <http://www.sephardicsages.org/texts.html> -
original (translated) works by HaLevi (The Book of the Khazars),
Maimonides (appearing in his Jewish name, RAMBAM, meaning Rabbi Moshe
Ben Maimon, or "Rabbi Moses, the son of Maimon"), and Rabbi Abraham
Ben Samuel Zacuto.
Stern, Samuel M., , ?A Petition to the Fatimid Caliph al-Mustansir
Concerning a Conflict within the Jewish Community,? Revue des études
juives 127 (1969): 203-222, reprinted in Coins and Documents from the
Medieval Middle East. London, 1986.
I hope this answered your question. Please contact me if you need any
clarifications before you tip/rate this answer.
And of course, Seasons Greetings! |
