Explanation: Al-Andalus is the commonly accepted name for the loosely-aligned Muslim polities of Spain before the Christian Reconquista. Despite being chauvinist by modern standards, relative to the time, Al-Andalus was largely multicultural and tolerant of other (Abrahamic) faiths.
One of the key figures in the expansion of Al-Andalus was a literal exiled royal
During that period Cordoba also became one of the first and most advanced learning centers in Europe. They even built sophisticated plumbing and water systems in Granada that was centuries ahead of everyone else at the time. Granada is an absolutely stunning place to visit. And the history of the region is fascinating.
But the modern Spanish are a very proud, conservative people. We met several professional Spaniards who absolutely denied their connection and heritage to Moorish Muslim Spain … they argued that any brown skinned Muslim people were either killed or deported and only pure Christian Spanish were left in their place. We found very few people who would agree that at least part of their heritage was connected to Moorish Spain.
EDIT: typos
Royal family is “decimated”, yet only one heir remains? Curious. Must have had a lot of daughters.
The other 8 heirs have too much trauma from beating their sibling to death to start a new dynasty
Understandable!
Arabs : establishes a multicultural, enlightened state
Spaniards : and I took exception to that
