The author cherishes no feeling of animosity towards the Spanish people. He remembers with pleasure a long sojourn among them. He can never forget the dignified courtesy of their men, the incomparable grace and fascinations of their women. Their faults are those entailed by a pernicious inheritance and a corrupt religion, which have perverted their principles, destroyed their power, and tarnished their glory.
As the greater part of this book was written before 1898, any unfavorable criticism of Spanish politics or manners which it contains must be attributed to a desire to adhere to historic truth, and not to a contemptible prejudice engendered by our unfortunate “War of Humanity.”
Philadelphia, 1903.
CONTENTS OF VOLUME I.
| CHAPTER I | |
|---|---|
| THE ANCIENT ARABIANS | |
| PAGE | |
| Topography of Arabia—Its History—Influence of OtherNations—Ancient Civilization—Commerce—Persistenceof Customs and Language—Character of theBedouin—His Independence—His Predatory Instincts—Powerof Tribal Connection—War the Normal Conditionof Existence in the Desert—The Virtues andVices of the Arabs—Blood-Revenge and its DestructiveConsequences—Absence of Caste—Condition ofWoman—Marriage—Religion—Astral Worship—Idolatry—Phallicism—HumanSacrifices—Importance andPower of the Jews—Christianity in Arabia—Poetry, itsSubjects and Character—The Moallakat—Popularity ofthe Arab Poet—His License—Influence of Arabic Civilizationand Culture on Subsequent Ages | [1] |
| CHAPTER II | |
| THE RISE, PROGRESS, AND INFLUENCE OF ISLAM | |
| Comparative Religion, its Interest as a Study—The Benefitsof Islam—Arabia at the Birth of Mohammed—Conditionof Christendom and the Byzantine Empire—PopularIdea of the Prophet—His Family—His Early Life—TheFirst Revelation—Persecution of the New Sect—TheHegira—Growing Prosperity of Islam—Characterof Mohammed—Causes of His Success—Polygamy—TheKoran—Its Arrangement, its Legends, its SublimeMaxims, its Absurdities—Its Obligations to other Creeds—TheKiblah—The Pilgrimage and its Ceremonies—Reformsaccomplished by Islam—Universal Worship ofForce—Corruption of the Religion of Mohammed—ItsWonderful Achievements—Mohammed the Apostle ofGod | [57] |
| CHAPTER III | |
| THE CONQUEST OF AL-MAGHREB | |
| General Disorder following the Death of Mohammed—Regulationsof Islam—Progress of the Moslem Arms—NorthernAfrica, the Land of the Evening—Its Fertility—ItsPopulation—Expedition of Abdallah—Defeatof the Greeks—Invasion of Okbah—Foundationof Kairoan—March of Hassan—Ancient Carthage—ItsInfluence on Europe—Its Splendid Civilization—ItsMaritime Power, its Colonies, its Resources—Descriptionof the City—Its Architectural Grandeur—Its Harbors,Temples, and Public Edifices—Roman Carthage—ItsLuxury and Depravity—Its Destruction by the Moslems—Warswith the Berbers—Musa appointed General—HisRomantic History—His Character—He subduesAl-Maghreb—Africa incapable of Permanent Civilization | [128] |
| CHAPTER IV. | |
| THE VISIGOTHIC MONARCHY | |
| Origin and Character of the Goths—Their Invasion of thePeninsula—Power of the Clergy—Ecclesiastical Councils—TheJews—The Visigothic Code—ProfoundWisdom of Its Enactments—Provisions against Fraudand Injustice—Severe Penalties—Its Definition of theLaw—Condition of the Mechanical Arts—Architecture—ByzantineInfluence—Manufactures—Votive Crowns—Agriculture—Literature—Medicine—SlaveLabor—Imitationof Roman Customs—Parallel between theGoths and the Arabs—Coincidence of Sentiments andHabits—Causes of National Decline—Permanent Influenceof the Gothic Polity | [165] |
| CHAPTER V. | |
| THE INVASION AND CONQUEST OF SPAIN. | |
| General Condition and Physical Features of the SpanishPeninsula—Various Classes of the Population—Supremacyof the Church—Tyranny of the VisigothicKings—Fatal Policy of Witiza—Accession of Roderick—CountJulian—Invasion of Tarik—Battle of theGuadalete—Its Momentous Results—Progress of theMoslems—Arrival of Musa—His Success—ImmenseBooty secured by the Victors—Quarrel of Tarik andMusa—Interference of the Khalif—Submission of theGoths—Musa’s Vast Scheme of Conquest—The TwoGenerals ordered to Damascus—The Triumphal Processionthrough Africa—Fate of Musa—Causes andEffects of the Moslem Occupation of Spain | [204] |
| CHAPTER VI | |
| THE EMIRATE | |
| Abd-al-Aziz—His Wise Administration—His Executionordered by the Khalif—Ayub-Ibn-Habib—His Reforms—Al-Horr—Al-Samh—HisInvasion of France—HisDefeat and Death—Abd-al-Rahman—Feud of theMaadites and Kahtanites—Its Disastrous Effects—Anbasah-Ibn-Sohim—HisAbility—He penetrates tothe Rhone and is killed—Yahya-Ibn-Salmah—Othman-Ibn-Abu-Nesa—Hodheyfa-Ibn-al-Awass—Al-Haytham-Ibn-Obeyd—Mohammed-Ibn-Abdallah—Abd-al-Rahman—HisPopularity—Proclaims the Holy War—Treasonof Othman-Ibn-Abu-Nesa—The Emir attemptsthe Conquest of France—Character of CharlesMartel—Battle of Poitiers—Death of Abd-al-Rahman—Abd-al-Melik—Okbah-Ibn-al-Hejaj—HisWisdom and Capacity—Charles Martel ravages Provence—BerberRevolt in Africa—Victory of the Rebels—Abd-al-Melik-Ibn-Kottam—Balj-Ibn-Beschr—Thalaba—Abu-al-Khattar—Conditionof Western Europe—Unstableand Corrupt Administration of the Emirs—Importanceof the Battle of Poitiers | [266] |
| CHAPTER VII | |
| FOUNDATION OF THE SPANISH MONARCHY | |
| The Northern Provinces of Spain—Their Desolate andForbidding Character—Climate—Population—Religion—Peculiaritiesof the Asturian Peasantry—Pelayus—HisBirth and Antecedents—He collects an Army—Obscure Origin of the Spanish Kingdom—ExtraordinaryConditions under which it was founded—Battle ofCovadonga—Rout of the Arabs—Increase of the ChristianPower—Favila—Alfonso I.—His Enterprise andConquests—His Policy of Colonization—Survival ofthe Spirit of Liberty—Religious Abuses—State ofSociety—Beginning of the Struggle for Empire | [337] |
| CHAPTER VIII | |
| THE OMMEYADES; REIGN OF ABD-AL-RAHMAN I. | |
| The Ommeyade Family—Its Origin—Its Hostility to Mohammed—TheSyrian Princes—Their Profligacy—Splendorsof Damascus—Luxury of the Syrian Capital—Riseof the Abbasides—Proscription of the DefeatedFaction—Escape of Abd-al-Rahman—HisRomantic Career—He enters Spain—His Success—Defeatand Dethronement of Yusuf—Constant Insurrections—Enterpriseof the Khalif of Bagdad—ItsDisastrous Termination—Invasion of Charlemagne—Slaughterof Roncesvalles—Death of Abd-al-Rahman—HisCharacter—His Services to Civilization—Foundationof the Great Mosque—The Franks reconquerSeptimania | [367] |
| CHAPTER IX | |
| REIGN OF HISCHEM I.; REIGN OF AL-HAKEM I. | |
| Custom of Royal Succession violated by the Will of Abd-al-Rahman—Accessionof Hischem—Revolt of Suleymanand Abdallah—They are routed and their Armies dispersed—Clemencyof the Emir—Invasion of Septimania—Defeatof the Franks—Indecisive Results ofthe Campaign—Public Works of Hischem—His NobleCharacter—His Partiality for Theologians—TheSouthern Suburb of Cordova—Death of Hischem—GeneralDistrust of Al-Hakem—Suleyman and Abdallahagain in Rebellion—Civil War—The Gothic March—Siegeand Capture of Barcelona—Apathy of theEmir—Importance of the Conquest—The EdrisiteDynasty—Disturbances at Toledo—“The Day ofthe Ditch”—The Royal Body-Guard—Revolt of theFaquis—Its Results—League of the Asturian andFrankish Princes—Legend of St. James the Apostle—Deathof Al-Hakem—His Character | [421] |
| CHAPTER X | |
| REIGN OF ABD-AL-RAHMAN II.; REIGN OF MOHAMMED | |
| Accession of Abd-al-Rahman II.—Defection of Abdallah—Invasionof the Gothic March—Embassy from theGreek Emperor—Revolt of Merida—Sedition at Toledo—Incursionof the Normans—Persecution of the Christians—Deathof Abd-al-Rahman—His Love of Pomp—HisVirtues—His Patronage of Art and Letters—Ziryab—HisVersatility—Conspiracy of Tarub—Stratagemof Mohammed—His Bigotry—Toledo again Revolts—Riseof the Beni-Kasi—War with the Asturias—Rebellionof Ibn-Merwan—The Serrania de Ronda—Ibn-Hafsun,his Origin and Exploits—Death andCharacter of Mohammed—Incipient Decadence of theMoslem Power | [475] |
| CHAPTER XI | |
| REIGN OF AL-MONDHIR; REIGN OF ABDALLAH | |
| Parallel between the Policy of the Moorish and AsturianCourts—Alfonso III.—His Conquests—Energy of Al-Mondhir—Siegeof Bobastro—Stratagem of Ibn-Hafsun—TheEmir is Poisoned—Abdallah ascends the Throne—Conditionsof Parties and Sects—Prevalence of Disorder—Insurrectionat Elvira—Success of the ArabFaction—Disturbances at Seville—General Disaffectionof the Provinces—Ibn-Hafsun defeated at Aguilar—Disastrousand Permanent Effects of the Continuanceof Anarchy—Sudden Death of Abdallah—ImportantPolitical Changes wrought by a Generation of CivilWarfare | [529] |
| CHAPTER XII | |
| REIGN OF ABD-AL-RAHMAN III. | |
| Eminent Qualities of the New Ruler—His Firmness—RapidSubjection of the Rebel Territory—Dissensions of theChristians—Defeat of Ibn-Abi-Abda—Death of Ibn-Hafsun—ImpairedPower of the Arab Nobles—Warwith the Fatimites of Africa—Rout of Junquera—Abd-al-Rahmanassumes the Title of Khalif—Its Significance—Invasionof Castile—Reverse of Alhandega—CivilWars of the Christians—The Princes of Leon andNavarre visit the Moslem Court—Abd-al-Rahman diesat the Age of Seventy Years—-His Remarkable Achievements—TheGreek and German Embassies—The Saracensin France and Italy—The Slaves and their Influence—Plotof Abdallah—Condition of the Countryunder Abd-al-Rahman III.—Cordova—Its Wealth andMagnificence—The Royal Villas—The City and Palaceof Medina-al-Zahrâ—Melancholy Reflections of theGreatest of the Khalifs | [563] |
| CHAPTER XIII | |
| REIGN OF AL-HAKEM II. | |
| Splendid Ceremonial at the Accession of Al-Hakem II.—HisWise and Prudent Measures—Ordoño seeks an Audience—HisBaseness—Successful Expedition againstthe Christians—Disturbances in Africa—Army of theKhalif Defeated—The Berber Chieftains are corrupted,and their Forces disband—Importance of Cordova as aReligious Centre—Description of the Great Mosque—Deathof Al-Hakem—His Literary Attainments—HisPatronage of Letters—The Library—Institutions ofLearning—General Prevalence of Education—PublicImprovements—The Khalif the Exemplar of the HighestCulture of his Age—Prosperity of the Empire | [634] |
| CHAPTER XIV | |
| REIGN OF HISCHEM II. | |
| Origin of Ibn-abi-Amir-Al-Mansur—The Scene in the Garden—Geniusand Attainments of the Youthful Statesman—HisSudden Rise to Power—Influence of theEunuchs—Their Conspiracy Detected—Ibn-abi-Amiraspires to Supreme Authority—He is appointed Hajib—Ruinof his Rivals—Reorganization of the Civil andMilitary Service—Systematic Degradation of Hischem—The Palace of Zahira—The Hajib becomes Masterof the Empire—Successful Wars with the Christians—Disturbancesin Africa—Destruction of Leon—Sackof Santiago—Death of Al-Mansur—His Great Servicesto the State—His Unbroken Series of Military Triumphs—Al-Modhaffer—Abd-al-Rahman—Mohammed—Suleyman—Disappearanceof Hischem—Rapid Disintegration of the Empire | [683] |
AUTHORITIES CONSULTED IN THE PREPARATION OF THIS WORK
(To promote facility of reference, the following list has been classified not only alphabetically by authors, but also by languages.)
ENGLISH.
Al-Hariri—Makamat. 8vo. London, 1850.