Point of conjecture : defining convivencia through the secular Hebrew poetry of al-Andalus
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Date
1998-06
Authors
Leben, Sarah J.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Oregon
Abstract
During the eleventh century in al-Andalus, Jews living under the rule of Islam,
amongst Muslims and Christians, experienced a cultural rebirth known as the Golden
Age of Hebrew poetry (c. 1000-1 090). Yet there is no clear understanding of the
coexistence of Jews and Muslims at this time; a relationship which contributed to
Jewish cultural development. Through analysis of secular Hebrew poetry of the
Jewish courtier poets of al-Andalus and evaluation of the historical evidence of the
time, the nature of convivencia is revealed. The courtly poetry of Samuel Ha-Nagid
(c.993-1055) and Moses Ibn Ezra (c.1055-1138) expresses the viewpoint and
experience of the Jewish courtier poets of the Muslim courts of al-Andalus.
Borrowing from Arabic culture poetical conventions and scholastic standards, the
Jewish courtier poets created a new form of Hebrew high culture that called for a
mastery of Hebrew culture and the sophistication of courtly standards. In a balanced
coexistence of ethnicities, the Jewish courtier poets created and pursued secular
Hebrew poetry in order to re-establish themselves as learned people.
Description
v, 89 p. A THESIS Presented to the Department of Romance Languages and the Clark Honors College of the University of Oregon in partial fulfillment of the requirements for degree of Bachelor of Arts, June 1998. A print copy of this title is available through the UO Libraries under the call number: SCA Archiv Leben 1998
Keywords
Hebrew poetry, Medieval -- Arab influences, Samuel, ha-Nagid, 993-1056, Ibn Ezra, Moses, ca. 1060-ca. 1139