The Long Ninth Century

Christian Reactions to Islamization and Islamication in Palestine and Al-Andalus

Bibliographic Data

ID3362298
AuthorsMark Ehrlich (0000-0002-5912-8450, Bar-Ilan University, corresponding author)
Year2023
Volume14
Issue5
Pages667
Publication date2023-05-17
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueReligions (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2077-1444 • E-ISSN: 2077-1444
PublisherMDPI AG (PUBLISHER • IT)
DOI10.3390/rel14050667
OpenAlexW4377021055
LanguageEN
References cited16

Christian communities in Palestine and Al-Andalus faced similar challenges during the ninth century. Although Muslim authorities tolerated Christianity and enshrined a certain degree of religious freedom, they downgraded these communities and encouraged conversion to Islam. In the long span, Christian communities decreased because many of their leading members emigrated or converted. Moreover, many of those that remained adopted the Arabic language, dressed like Muslims, and became increasingly assimilated into the ruling elite Muslim culture. This article suggests that the contacts and reciprocal influence between Christian communities from Palestine and Spain during this period were more substantial than hitherto perceived. Thus, they used the same methods with some local adaptations to tackle their critical situation. They introduced a growing use of Arabic in religious life, established and upgraded important pilgrimage shrines, and some extremist monastic communities fostered and encouraged martyrdom

Aesthetics · Ancient history · Arabic · Archaeology · Christianity · Elite · Islam · Islamization · Late Antiquity · Ninth · Palestine · Pilgrimage · Political science · Politics · Sociology · Archaeology and Historical Studies · Hispanic-African Historical Relations · Historical and Linguistic Studies · History · Law · Philosophy · Religious studies

Tools

Open DOIOpen Access