(slides 30, 31) The art and architecture of Andalusia can reveal interesting facets of Muslim-Christian interaction in the Middle Ages. In slide 30, we see an illustration from a religious commentary written by the Christian monk Beatus. Beatus wrote a commentary on the Apocalypse, the final book of the New Testament, which became important throughout Europe. Many copies of Beatus' commentary have survived, suggesting its popularity and influence in the medieval times. The image seen in slide 30 deals with the Old Testament prophecies of Daniel concerning the destruction of Babylon. According to the Old Testament, the king of Babylon had refused to heed God's words as spoken through His Prophets. This picture is probably a depiction of the burning of the king of Babylon's palace - a consequence of his unwillingness to heed God's words. The building is shown filled to the brim with priceless objects and luxuries, many of which are seen in the windows. The illustration also shows the local influence of Christianity in Andalusia. The arches of the building resemble the interior of the Great Mosque of Cordoba. This may suggest that the Christians who commissioned the manuscript used Islamic themes to depict societal evils. According to this interpretation, some Christians may have seen the Muslim invasion as an apocalyptic calamity. Back to slides