Lesson 3
All That Glitters: The Golden Age in Moslem Spain

In this lesson, we note the start of the decentralization of Jewish life, with communities of Jews establishing their own traditions and religious leadership. Our class focuses on the Golden Age in Moslem Spain, a period marked by relative prosperity and religious tolerance. Many Spanish Jews became well integrated into the surrounding society, contributing as scientists, statesmen, and poets. But when the fanatical Almohads swept through Spain, waging war against all who did not share their faith, this glorious period of cultural interchange was brought to an end. As the Middle East grapples with the struggle between moderate and radical Islamic factions, this period in history resonates anew.