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Arabic versions of the Psalter in use in Muslim Spain
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After the invasion of Spain by the Muslims in 711-A. D.,
Southern Spain and North Africa, from which the invaders had
come, were linked in such a way that they could no longer be
counted separate countries with separate cultures. There
was a steady traffic between the two, not only in regard to
people and merchandise, but in ideas, writings and translations.
The Caliph resided sometimes in Andalusia, sometimes
in North Africa.
In 817, after a revolt of the Christians at Cordoba,
Hakam massacred some and deported others to North Africa.
Thirty years later, a famine in Spain drove many to emigrate
and join the exiles. Later still, in 1126, Ali ben Yusuf
beat back the king Alonso and, to punish those Christians of
his realm who had been willing to join the king, had them
deported from Granada to Morocco, where they were settled in
Mequinez and Fez. It was in the latter city, in 1137, that
a bishop Michael ibn abd-el-aziz had a copy of the Gospels
made for a certain Ali ibn abd-el-aziz. A year after this
copy had been made, a further deportation by the son of All
ibn Yusuf swelled the ranks of the exiles and emigres.
The Christians in North Africa fared quite well. They
became soldiers and the Christian militia played no small
part in North African history. Some were chosen by the Caliph
to join his personal bodyguard and others held good posts at
Court. Even the Almohades, strict Unitarians though they,
were, allowed churches. to be built. In 1224, when Ferdinand's
help was sought by the Almohades in North Africa to quell
risings of local Moorish rulers, the Christian king asked in
payment not only money and ten Andalusian fortresses, but
that a Christian church should be built in Morocco and bells
sound the hours of service.
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