Moorish Spain: Its Legacy to Europe and the West

The International Museum of Muslim Cultures (IMMC) opened in April 2001 with a debut exhibition, Islamic Moorish Spain: Its Legacy to Europe and the West alongside the international touring exhibit, The Majesty of Spain: Royal Collections from the Museo del Prado and Patrimonio Nacional. The third in a series of international exhibitions hosted by Jackson’s Mississippi Arts Pavilion, “Majesty” was expected to attract half a million visitors—including King Juan Carlos and Queen Sophia of Spain to our city.

It was disappointing to the local Muslim community to see this major exhibit leave out one of Spain’s most illustrious periods, the roughly 800 years of Muslim rule in Andalucia, the southern part of the Iberian Peninsula. It was a time of productive and mostly peaceful coexistence among Spain’s Muslims, Christians, and Jews. The Muslim community in Jackson welcomed the Spanish exhibition as an opportunity to showcase the positive legacy of their faith. This was a catalyst to what started the International Museum of Muslim Cultures in Mississippi. A decision was made after reaching out to the local Muslim community to create an accompanying exhibition that would highlight the “Majesty” of Islamic Spain.

Islamic Moorish Spain: Its Legacy to Europe and the West would explore the Golden Age of Muslim rule in Spain and the Islamic legacy inherited by Europe and the West in terms of the vast cultural and scientific contributions that sparked Europe’s Renaissance and brought it out of the dark ages. Visitors learned about Islamic inventions and contributions to math, chemistry, philosophy, medicine, astronomy, and more. Perhaps, Islamic Spain’s greatest legacy was to foster a culture of tolerance where Muslims, Christians, and Jews lived together in peace and harmony creating a unique social fabric.

The exhibit proved to be a great success and paved the way for the opening of IMMC as America’s First Muslim Museum.

NOW CLOSED