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Al-Andalus: An epic journey through the eight centuries of Al Andalus

Al-Andalus: An epic journey through the eight centuries of Al Andalus

Author: José Miguel Puerta Royal Academy of Fine Arts of Granada

The publication follows the thematic chapters and chronological framework of the Al-Andalus: History and Civilization exhibition, tracing the key cultural, literary, political, and social developments that unfolded in Al-Andalus over eight centuries—spanning the Muslim presence across the Iberian Peninsula, in what is now Spain and Portugal.

It explores the architectural, scientific, and civilizational advancements that arose from a sustained tradition of tolerance, diversity, and inclusion. This environment enabled Muslims, Christians, and Jews to live together in a cooperative society that became, at its height, a model of cultural and intellectual flourishing in medieval Europe.

The author emphasizes that the legacy of Al-Andalus remains dynamic and enduring, drawing a connection between its spirit and that of the United Arab Emirates. He presents the UAE as a contemporary continuation of the values once embodied in Al-Andalus—particularly those of coexistence and cultural plurality.

The publication also profiles a number of key historical figures—scholars, philosophers, poets, writers, and physicians—whose contributions marked a defining chapter in the intellectual and artistic history of Al-Andalus, and whose influence extended across Europe and beyond, into the present day.

Among the artefacts highlighted are silver dirhams from the period of ʿAbd al-Raḥmān I and a modern silver interpretation of the world map originally produced by al-Idrīsī.