When Blacks ruled in Europe: The Moors (doc)

Bettany Hughes (bettanyhughes.co.uk); Eds., Wisdom Quarterly

Join British historian Bettany Hughes as she examines a long-buried chapter of European history -- the rise and fall of Islamic culture in Europe in what is now Spain and Portugal [and the Basque region of the Iberian Peninsula?].

Although generations of Spanish rulers have tried to expunge this era from the historical record, recent archeology and scholarship now shed fresh light on the Moors who flourished in Al-Andalus for more than 700 years.

This fascinating documentary destroys old stereotypes and offers shocking new insights.

Discover the ingenious mathematics behind Granada’s dazzling Alhambra Palace, trace El Cid’s lineage to his Moorish roots, and learn how the Iberian population left Christianity and willingly converted to Islam [to align with the power elite as many go Christian now] in droves.

Through interviews with noted scholars, see how Moorish advances in mathematics, astronomy, art, and agriculture helped propel the West out of the Dark Ages and into the Renaissance.

What emerges is a richly detailed portrait of a sensuous, inquisitive, and remarkably progressive Islamic culture in Christian Europe. When the Moors Ruled in Europe (2005) - IMDb

• Directed by Timothy Copestake
• Release date: 2005
• Country: United Kingdom
• Language: English
• When the Moors Ruled in Europe