The Muslims of Valencia in the Age of Fernando and Isabel: Between Coexistence and Crusade

During the reign of the Catholic Monarchs, Fernando and Isabel, Valencia was home to the largest Muslim population in Christian Spain. Mark Meyerson's book, "The Muslims of Valencia," explores the policy towards both Muslims and Jews and the economic life of Valencia's Muslims, highlighting the complex institutional and social network that held them suspended between coexistence and crusade.

Format: Hardback
Length: 386 pages
Publication date: 19 August 2022
Publisher: University of California Press

The kingdom of Valencia witnessed a significant presence of Muslims during the reign of the Catholic Monarchs, Fernando and Isabel. Despite the turbulent period marked by the establishment of the Spanish Inquisition, the Expulsion of the Jews, the conquest of Granada, and the conversion of the Muslims of Granada and Castile, Muslim-Christian coexistence in Valencia remained relatively stable. In his comprehensive analysis, Mark Meyerson delves into the policy towards both Muslims and Jews implemented by Fernando and Isabel. His findings will ignite lively discussions among Hispanists, Arabists, and historians.

Meyerson argues that the key to the persistence of Muslim-Christian coexistence in Valencia lies in the previously overlooked distinctions between the royal couple concerning religious matters. While The Muslims of Valencia primarily focuses on the minority policy of the Catholic Monarchs, it extends beyond that to provide an exemplary examination of the economic life of Valencia's Muslims and the intricate institutional and social network that facilitated their coexistence amidst challenges.

This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates the University of California Press's commitment to seeking out and nurturing the brightest minds and giving them a platform to express their ideas, reach a wider audience, and have a lasting impact. By resurrecting titles from the backlist dating back to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again through print-on-demand technology. Originally published in 1991, this title contributes to the ongoing exploration of historical narratives and sheds light on the complex dynamics of religious coexistence in the past.

Weight: 726g
Dimension: 229 x 152 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780520371774