This semester I decided to take a class that focuses on the art history of Medieval Iberia, which has allowed me the ability to view the global influences of Islamic art and architecture. The first few readings for this course have demonstrated how Middle Eastern history and politics – particularly the Umayyad and Abbasid Caliphates – impacted Spanish arts and culture. The chapter on “Frontiers” in The Arts of Intimacy chronicles the influence of the Abrahamic religions as well as the Caliphates that helped form Spanish culture.[1]

The primary story of migration involves Umayyad prince Abd al-Rahman. In order to escape the Abbasid’s slaughter and their impending control over the Umayyad Caliphate’s territory, Abd al-Rahman fled to al-Andalus bringing with him Arab and Islamic culture. The Arab influences were so dominant that the Arabized Christians and Jews quickly adopted them. As explained in the readings, these Arabized Christians and…