Cities of Light: The Rise and Fall of Islamic Spain

2007 • 114 minutes

About this movie

Over a thousand years ago, the sun-washed lands of Southern Spain were home to Muslims, Christians, and Jews living together and flourishing. Their culture and beliefs intertwined and the knowledge of the ancients was gathered and reborn. Here were the very seeds of the Renaissance. But this world too quickly vanished. Greed, fear, and intolerance swept it away. Puritanical judgments and absolutism snuffed out the light of learning. Within a few centuries, the fragile union of these people dissipated like smoke. Brought to life by powerful, feature-film style re-creations, Cities of Light: The Rise and Fall of Islamic Spain explores the causes that destroyed the one civilization of pluralism and interfaith cooperation that for a few centuries lit the Dark Ages in Medieval Europe.

Ratings and reviews

Kind of boring, very low information density. Go read a book, you'll absorb and retain more. Some of the scenes (learned men reading books by candlelight, outdoor celebrations) are just repeated for different eras and kingdoms.

This documentary showcases the start and end of Islamic Spain. The many riches it possesed and the constant struggle for survival.