David Levering Lewis - God’s Crucible: Islam and the Making of Europe, 570-1215
Karim Douglas Crow
God’s Crucible marks Lewis’ historical engagement with the major theme of impact Islamic civilisation upon formation Europe. Through his synthesis secondary studies in English, French and Spanish Lewis paints a broad canvas portraying rise spread Islam South West Asia, its dramatic extension across North Africa into Iberian peninsula beyond under Umayyad Caliphs, complex interaction vicissitudes Christian Muslim powers Hispania/ Andalusia. He ends narrative start reconquista at fateful Battle Las Navas de Tolosa 1212, which was fought not far from Toledo central Spain ended total victory combined forces three kings Castile, Aragon, Navarra over Almohad caliph Muhammad III (r. 1199-1213): “the first war by Christians Muslims exclusively as - between civilizations” (p. 378). clearly has contemporary ‘clash’ mind when exploiting this much abused phrase.
ICR Journal