Reflection 2: Guest Lecture by Dr. Deveny

Dr. Deveny was an amazing presenter.  He has spent much time in Spain and has learned a lot about the history over the years.  It's very much obvious that he's passionate about the topic of Muslims in Spain.  90 minutes was definitely not enough time to cover the topic, but he squeezed seven centuries of history in like no one else could.  I learned a lot about the history prior to the Muslim control, when the Visigoths were the rulers.  When the Muslims became the rulers of the Iberean peninsula, it was interesting to see how they brought so much from the Middle East and Damascus over to Spain.  What surprised me the most is that they were able to live peacefully in a community of three different religions: Christians, Jews, and Muslims.  Between the arts created and the schools of the thought in the area, it's hard to believe schools don't cover this time period more.  The Reconquista and Spanish Inquisition were very important to the end of the Muslim dynasty in Spain, but they're hardly talked about in the history classes.  There's enough topic to offer a whole class on Islamic Spain, and I would love to take it.

Thank you, Dr. Deveny!