Cities of Light: The Rise and Fall of Islamic Spain

Over a thousand years ago, the sun-washed land of southern Spain was home to Jews, Christians, and ...Over a thousand years ago, the sun-washed land of southern Spain was home to Jews, Christians, and Muslims, 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 judgements and absolutism snuffed out the light of learning. Within a few centuries, the fragile union of these people dissipated like smoke. The time of tolerance was lost, forever.

This documentary highlights the triumphs and achievements of diverse cultures that co-exist and thrive together. But it also depicts the tragedy that ensues when religious extremism begins to rise.

The story weaves together striking feature-film style re-enactments, vivid footage of great Islamic architecture, scenes of Spain’s beautiful landscapes, and analysis by world-class historians and scholars to tell a story of vital importance for our contemporary world.

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