Past and present of Andalusia

Despite its small size, this book is rich in benefits, for it combines history and travelogue. It recounts the history of Andalusia from its earliest times, tracing its history before the arrival of the Arabs, its conquest by Tariq ibn Ziyad, and the entry of Abd al-Rahman I and his establishment of an Arab kingdom. Muhammad Kurd highlights the strengths that enabled the Arabs to establish a state and a civilization at a time when Europe was mired in darkness. However, the situation changed when Ferdinand and Isabella ended the Andalusian presence. The author meticulously analyzes the causes and manifestations of Andalusian decline. Then, Muhammad Kurd sheds the mantle of historian and dons the garb of traveler, recounting what he saw of the remaining Andalusian monuments and clarifying the Arabs‘ civilizational role in Andalusia before and after its fall. It is a unique book that blends the arts of narrative and description.