Preparation

Readings:

  • #11-A Christian Account of the Life of Muhammad
  • #12-Christians in Cordoba
  • #16-A Jewish Administrator under Caliph Hisham

Questions for the “live” discussion:

  1. How does “A Christian Life of Muhammad” (document #11) characterize the founder of Islam? What can it tell us about how some Christians viewed Islam? 
  2. Why do you think the author of “A Christian Life of Muhammad” used so much animal imagery in his description? 
  3. How do the two documents by Paul Alvarus in “Christians in Cordoba” (Document #12) represent the situation for Christians in Al-Andalus (at least according to the author’s perspective)? 
  4. One important aspect to think about Paul Alvarus’ description of Leocritia and Eulogius is that he was written this text as a hagiography. A hagiography is a biography written about a saint or designed to depict certain people as potential saints (and therefore hopefully get them named as saints by the Catholic Church). What impact does Alvarus’ desire to represent Leocritia and Eulogius as saints have on the story he constructs about their arrest and death? What “saintly” attributes or actions does he apply to them?

Questions for the “on demand” discussion will be posted on the chatboard.

Recordings and Powerpoint

Powerpoint: #4-Jews and Christians in Al-Andalus

Recording: 4-Christian and Jews in Al-Andalus

Assignments

  • The quiz for this week will be posted on Friday afternoon. It will cover both topics for this week (Muslim Conquest/Umayyad Caliphate and Christians/Jews in Al-Andalus). It will be based on the lecture material. You have until next Friday (May 28th) to complete it. Remember the quizzes are optional! You can write the final exam instead.
  • Primary and secondary source evaluations are due on Friday, May 21st by 5 p.m. For information about the assignment:
  • Submit the assignment on Blackboard.