Catlos, Brian. Kingdoms of Faith: A New History of Islamic Spain. New York: Basic Books, 2018. xi + 482 pp. + ill. (original) (raw)

Brian Catlos's "Kingdoms of Faith: A New History of Islamic Spain" challenges oversimplified narratives of al-Andalus, depicting it as a complex society marked by shifting identities and pragmatic toleration rather than a mere "clash of civilizations" or a harmonious interfaith utopia. Through a detailed historical account spanning from the Islamic conquest in 711 to the expulsion of Moriscos in 1614, Catlos emphasizes the nuanced religious and cultural dynamics at play among various ethnic and social groups, while addressing the role of elites in shaping medieval Iberian politics.