Probably The Myth of the Andalusian Paradise by Dario Fernandez-Morena.

I read that one too, last year ))

Didact,

Al andaluz wasn't the Atlantis on the Mesa , a reading of Mio Cid will dispel that delusion. There was a book written by a Spanish professor at an American University that totally refutes that fairytale. I forget the title now.

xavier

Yes, Emmet Scott's precis analysis of Pirenne's findings indicate that the archaeologist himself was a truly remarkable man with an amazing mind and deep insights.

Further analysis and evidence uncovered since Pirenne's time indicates that just about every supposedly "great city" of Islamic al-Andalus was nothing of the sort.

Imagine Barcelona or Cadiz being the Rotterdam of the Mediterranean back in the Middle ages?

Indeed. And actually that is likely where they would have ended up, had Islam not destroyed that possibility.

Didact,

I have Pirenne's book in French and it's one of those awesome erudite books written in elegant 19th century French. It's really mindblowing . I also have an article of his where he points out that the Dark ages came when Europe's supply of papyrus was cut off and the monks and state officials had to use vellum and parchment. That was expensive.
Islam also permantly changed Mediterranean settlement patterns.
If you look at the coast of Spain, you notice that a lot of Catalan towns have 2 with the same name Villassar/Villassar de Dalt. Dalt means upper aka like up a hill or mountain. Why?
Because when the Moslem pirates would raid the coasts the inhabitants would flee up the hill/mountain then come down and rebuild their shacks. It literally took Barcelona until the 20th century to turn and face the sea again. And the results have been rather spectacular. Imagine Barcelona or Cadiz being the Rotterdam of the Mediterranean back in the Middle ages?
xavier

Unfortunately, that notion of an Islamic "Golden Age" is still taught as historical fact in most schools. Hell, my own parents believe that nonsense. One of them was a history teacher.

Does it matter?

Interesting, I'll have to see if I can find a copy of that book of Mead's.

BTW – since you posted on Jacksonianism, "Divine Providence" – which that Jacksonian article is basically a chapter of – is also well worth reading.

Forgotten Man was excellent, as was LIberal Fascism – though Goldberg's follow-up work wasn't as good.