University of Louisville
Five members of the Overseers International Seminar ”Islamic Iberia“ take a break during the field work segment of the course. For seminar participants, semester-long academic work is followed by subsidized travel for hands-on study.
Reflections of an Islamic Past
Muslims in Spain? The topic of the spring International Honors Seminar immediately snagged my curiosity. After years of Spanish classes, I had only briefly heard about the "Moors," and they were usually presented as almost a glitch in Spanish and Portuguese history. Now there would be a whole class dedicated to their civilization and culture!
The truth is, not many people realize that these two countries on the tip of Western Europe, at one time the greatest Catholic powers in the world, once comprised the Islamic land of Al-Andalus. Before the seminar, I myself had never understood the wealth of cultural and intellectual influences left by the 800-year presence of Muslims in Portugal and Spain.
As our 20-person group ventured across the peninsula in late May, the evidence was to be found everywhere. From unmistakable horseshoe arches to intricate tile work, the styles of Al-Andalus echoed throughout both European countries. Even store and restaurant signs professed the influence of a vibrant Islamic culture.
During the trip we experienced first-hand many of the historical sites we had studied in class: Muslim fortresses adorning hilltops, ancient palaces, gardens, and mosques, and even an excavated royal city. At each site, we imagined what it would have been like centuries ago, occupied by royalty, crowds of people, and a remarkable spirit of cultural and religious coexistence.
Naturally, I couldn't leave the heartland itself without going to a flamenco performance. One night in Seville, a friend and I walked down a narrow cobblestone alley to a place fittingly named "La Casa de la Memoria," referring to the memory of al-Andalus. The doorway of what appeared to be a plain stone structure led to a beautiful Andalusian courtyard with Islamic artwork, burning incense, and pale candlelight.
Abby Crawford, author of “Reflections of
an Islamic Past” is pictured at second from the left at the Royal Palace
in Sevilla. Dr. Greg Hutcheson, Modern Languages, and Dr. Shawn Parkhurst,
Anthropology, taught ”Islamic Iberia.“
In the middle of the square, on a tiny wooden platform, a man sang of love and sorrow as if they were his own, in a chilling yet romantic tone. The incredible performance of the guitarist and dancer completed the atmosphere. It was there, in that dreamy courtyard, where Spain's Islamic heritage came alive to me. In a stirring Castilian love song, I could almost hear a 12th-century Berber Muazzin calling the city to prayer from the tower of the local mosque.
There is no learning experience quite like traveling across oceans to see for yourself what books can only describe with mere words and pictures. The greatest lesson I gained from the seminar and trip was the importance of searching deeper, taking the time to really investigate things, asking questions such as "Where did this tradition come from?"
Who knows, there may be a fascinating answer waiting -- one that you may never have expected.
