How were Christians and Jews treated in Cordoba?

Dr. Saliba is professor of Middle East history at Worcester State College, MA. He delivered this paper at the annual symposium of the Antiochian Orthodox clergy in the Antiochian Village, Ligonier, PA, July 21-25, 2008. This year’s symposium focused on the early relations between Christianity and Islam. Three papers were delivered. A spirited discussion followed each paper. The symposium in which this paper is being given, "Christians and Jews Under Islam," held at Antioch Village, Gondolier, PA, July 21-25, 2008, could not have come at a better time. Those of us who may follow Middle East news closely but have no solid foundation in Middle East history might think that unrest, conflict and bloodletting have always been endemic to the Middle East. "This is the Middle East," we might say: "What do you expect?" Well, I am happy to say that such has not been the case.