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God's Crucible: Islam and the Making of Europe, 570-1215 Paperback – March 20, 2018

by David Levering Lewis (Author)
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 154 ratings
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From the two-time Pulitzer Prize–winning author, God’s Crucible brings to life “a furiously complex age” (New York Times Book Review).

Resonating as profoundly today as when it was first published to widespread critical acclaim a decade ago, God’s Crucible is a bold portrait of Islamic Spain and the birth of modern Europe from one of our greatest historians. David Levering Lewis’s narrative, filled with accounts of some of the most epic battles in world history, reveals how cosmopolitan, Muslim al-Andalus flourished―a beacon of cooperation and tolerance―while proto-Europe floundered in opposition to Islam, making virtues out of hereditary aristocracy, religious intolerance, perpetual war, and slavery. This masterful history begins with the fall of the Persian and Roman empires, followed by the rise of the prophet Muhammad and five centuries of engagement between the Muslim imperium and an emerging Europe. Essential and urgent, God’s Crucible underscores the importance of these early, world-altering events whose influence remains as current as today’s headlines. 8 pages of illustrations; 4 maps
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Previous page
  1. Print length
    528 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Liveright
  4. Publication date
    March 20, 2018
  5. Dimensions
    5.5 x 1 x 8.3 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1631494309
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1631494307
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

David Levering Lewis, the author of God’s Crucible, is professor emeritus of history at New York University. A recipient of the National Humanities Medal, Lewis received the Pulitzer Prize for each volume of his W.E.B. Du Bois biography. He lives in New York City.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Liveright; Reprint edition (March 20, 2018)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 528 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1631494309
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1631494307
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 13.9 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 1 x 8.3 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 154 ratings

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David L. Lewis

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4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
154 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Charlottekrn Bookfair
5.0 out of 5 stars Confrontation between Islam and Christianity
Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2021
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The book details the clash of civilization and religion between Muslims, Christians and Jews chronicling the rise and decline of the Islamic empire from the 600s to 1200s.
However, the author begins with the much earlier rise of Roman Empire, and the inevitable subsequent conflicts with the Persian Empire. David Lewis presents amazing details of events, including battles, as well as famous personages from Shapur and Krosrow of Persia to Heraclius of the Byzants.
Lewis interweaves the vast time span with the vast range of countries into a fascinating, readable history.
Lewis details the beginnings of Islam and the internecine fighting of the clans and leaders, and includes the terrible and traitorous destruction of the Jewish tribes punished by Mohammed’s jealousies and insecurities.
The author expands the narrative with the propulsion of Islam to the lands outside of the peninsula, the Middle East and North Africa to Gibraltar with the first jihad and the subsequent escape of Rahman of Damascus to Cordoba followed by the enlightened period of centuries before the destructive Berber invasions. Lewis depicts the beauty of the Islamic cities, the architecture, the wealth of trade and the advanced education and philosophy.
After the first century and a half, the Muslim expansion into Europe would be stopped by Charles Martel, the grandfather of Charlemagne, who would then continue the battle against Muslim expansion that would carry over to his son, Pepin, only to rage over the next several centuries leading up to the Berber invasions and eventually the Almohad conquests.
Lewis delves into many personalities from the different periods including Maimonides, Hasdai ben Shaprut, and Samuel Naghrela, among many others, with detailed stories of their lives.
The powerhouse of work is enlightening, enthralling, informative and fascinating in depicting the many differences between the religions and cultures over the enormous scope of history. Highly recommended.
2 people found this helpful
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Retired Reader
4.0 out of 5 stars Cultural Difussion
Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2008
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The central argument of this rather rambling book is that the Islamic civilization that developed in the Iberian Peninsula after the Muslim conquest of the 8th Century contributed directly to the rebirth of Western European culture and learning. A secondary theme is that the Realm of Islam, after its initial and phenomenal expansion, developed into a uniquely tolerant and cultured society that compared very favorably to an intolerant and semi-barbaric Western Europe of the early Middle Ages. Yet this book is not a particularly good history. Nonetheless, it is a fun read. Lewis clearly enjoyed writing it and provides the reader with a lot of interesting detours and asides.

History is as much a matter of interpretation as a recounting of facts. It is certainly true that most Islamic fundamentalist today regard much of the period covered by this book (late 8th Century through the early 13th Century) as a `Golden Age' for Islam. It also appears accurate to argue that during this golden age at least parts of the Realm of Islam (Dar al Islam) achieved a remarkably tolerant society and a high level of culture. Yet this is a very relative conclusion. One suspects that most Muslims of the golden age were more like their contemporaneous European Christian counterparts than not. Golden age Islamic learning and culture, like contemporary European culture, were restricted to a learned minority and were scarcely universal. Also one would suspect that Islamic tolerance to religious minority groups such as the Jews and Coptic Christians was as dicey in the Golden Age as it is today. Still the Islamic society of the Iberian Peninsula had an enviable reputation for tolerance and certainly provided Western Europe with some of the intellectual horse power it needed to move into the high middle ages. Yet other influences also helped propel Europe into the pre-renaissance period. The reign of Charlemagne provided the stability needed to reinvigorate Western European learning and scholarship and by the late 10th Century Byzantine (East Roman) culture began again influencing Europe.

The great Belgian historian Henri Pirenne in 1937 wrote what even today is a brilliant book, "Mohammed and Charlemagne" (Amazon.com). In it he argued that the Muslim expansion and subsequent control of the Mediterranean Sea (7th Century) finally and completely brought an end to the commerce which kept at least the vestiges of the Roman commercial system alive in Europe long after the implosion of the Western Empire. In describing the Muslim influence on European development this is still the better book.
114 people found this helpful
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Thomas F. Motter
5.0 out of 5 stars God's Crucible
Reviewed in the United States on November 3, 2011
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Not since Barbara Tuchman's "Distant Mirror" has an author and historian so brilliantly captured the detailed events, personages and socio-political landscape of civilization's darkest epoch. Mr. Levering Lewis, in my opinion, is our (did I say "our"?)is the "world's" greatest living historian. I am an author of Historical Romance books focused on the Dark Ages.  The Song of Charlemagne: Book One - The Grail Revelation  As such, I must have access to accurate information on the people and events of the medieval period in a rational, flowing, detailed and understandable context. I am constantly and repeatedly amazed by the graphic detail Mr, Levering Lewis pours into the motivations behind the charaters and events of the dark ages and which are so brilliantly presented in this book. It has become my "bible" when it comes to making sense out of a mishmash of conglomerate events that would otherwise be (and traditionally, always have been) overwhelming. This author is a Pulitzer Prize winner. After you read this masterpiece, you will understand why. No library is complete without this book. Sincerely, Thomas F. Motter
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Richard P Weed
5.0 out of 5 stars Lewis spreads the timeline and offers understanding not only of Islam but of us who have followed our European antecedents.
Reviewed in the United States on June 30, 2016
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Enjoyed thoroughly and will continue to do, as this strikes me as awesome work that casts light on the complicated but compelling sweep of Islam. Much more detail of individual battles and important people. But that's more a comment on what I expected compared to the work presented.
So much here to recommend in the hopes of understanding certain realities.
Lewis gives much of himself in this piece, and I was as charmed by his wit as appreciative of his incredible knowledge.
5 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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simon martin sibley
5.0 out of 5 stars Riveting- history as it should be approached
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 2, 2019
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Brilliantly written & informative, up ends so many commonly held half-truths.
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Philippe A Bruneau
1.0 out of 5 stars Revisionism should be done objectively at least, if it's to be done well.
Reviewed in Canada on October 3, 2016
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The author makes known his disdain for some religions and cultures early on. According to the writer there's damn all good to come out of Western Europe, indeed, I suspect he believes things would have been better for locals if the Muslims had conquered all of the continent. It may be a Pulitzer Prize winner, but I find his opinion permeates and pollutes what otherwise could have been an excellent historical account written more evenly than most. Revisionism should be done objectively at least, if it's to be done well.
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Pierre Blancard
5.0 out of 5 stars A MASTERPIECE
Reviewed in France on January 5, 2016
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Approche panoramique et comparée
De nombreux passages peuvent être lus devant les monuments présentés comme source de référence un chef- d'oeuvre
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Ditmar P
2.0 out of 5 stars Schwer zu lesen
Reviewed in Germany on July 20, 2013
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Auf irgendeiner Webseite wurde dieses Buch positiv erwähnt, woraufhin ich es bei Amazon bestellt habe, da das Thema interessant schien. Bücher englischsprachiger Autoren lese ich praktisch immer im Orginal, aber dieses hier fand ich übertrieben kompliziert geschrieben, jedenfalls für nicht englische Muttersprachler. Ich frage mich, wie Muttersprachler diese Schreibweise einschätzen würden. Daher habe ich es als eines der wenigen Bücher nie zu Ende gelesen. Schade eigentlich, da das Thema und wohl auch der Inhalt des Buches durchaus lesenswert wären.
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Mr A S Tierney
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 7, 2014
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