Full Text Review(s)
"A vibrant picture of life in the Middle Ages from Spain through the Middle East. City and Countryside describe how poor or middle-class people lived, Palace focuses on the politics and leaders of Dar al-Islam (literally "the Abode of Islam"), and Faith delves further into the founding of the religion and the development of the different sects. A chapter in each book describes the role of women in the context of the title, and all but Faith devote a chapter to growing up in urban, rural, or royal families, respectively. Hinds celebrates accomplishments in science and knowledge, and the peaceful eras when communities of Jews, Christians, and Muslims lived in harmony. She does not shy away from the violence that has shaped the region, including civil wars and assassinations, but concentrates more on everyday life. Countryside, for example, discusses the impact of war on the crops of families living in rural areas rather than focusing on bloodshed. The books intersect beautifully, each informing the others with quotes and excerpts from medieval texts, to create a comprehensive view of Dar al-Islam. Reproductions from ancient manuscripts and 18th- and 19th-century paintings complement the texts. Readers may continue to have questions about Islam and the Muslim world, particularly as these books relate to current events; some of the further-reading resources listed will help. This series fills its niche beautifully."