Biljana M. Đurašinović
Univerzitet Edukons
Fakultet za projektni i inovacioni menadžment, Biblioteka – Beograd
biljana.djurasinovic@gmail.com

doi: 10.19090/cit.2023.42.66-78
No. 42 (May 2023), p.66-78

The mixture of cultures as a starting point for the creation of the integrated mosaic:
Copying, book art and libraries in Medieval Spain

Summary

Work represents an overview of social, political and cultural changes in medieval Spain from the 8th to the 15th century, especially in the Muslim-controlled territory – Al Andalus, which has special significance because of the translation movement created with the participation of all three religions. This was especially visible during the 12th and 13th centuries in the city of Toledo. Because of their work, the Westerners made new acquaintances with different works of ancient writers, translated from the Arab language into the Latin. Books content was mostly from natural sciences: medicine, mathematics and astronomy.
A special chapter deals with the organisation and functions of libraries, which existed in Al Andalus, as well as places in Christian kingdoms – Castille, Aragon and Navara. Among them, the most important in Al Andalus was the Caliph library, and in Christian kingdoms, like in many other countries in medieval Europe, the monastic ones. The art of bookmaking was described through influences of all the people who lived in this territory, and the regions close to it. Therefore, in created books we can see Christian, Jewish and Muslim symbols from the Middle East and the Mediterranean.

Keywords:

Spain, „8-12th century”, Al Andalus, Christians, Jews, Muslims, libraries, book art, transcription work, Toledo, „12-13th century”

Submitted: 6th January 2023
Correction to the manuscript: 26th January 2023
Accepted for publication: 7th February 2023

The mixture of cultures as a starting point for the creation of the integrated mosaic: Copying, book art and libraries in Medieval Spain by Biljana M. Đurašinović is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Full text