Part one

In this weeks reading we begin the book by Amin Malalouf entitled Leo Arficanus, in which he discusses the problems and struggles between Christians and Muslims, particularly in this part of the book in Grenada. Specifically he speaks of how Grenada has fallen to Christians and that in those days people were discriminated against for what they believed in. One part of the book he talks to someone who speaks of paying ransoms for the Muslim slaves in the area. It is shame that people of this time were so oppressed; the friend says how they are chained every night like animals and make shoes and are slaves to their owners. He is there to help pay their debt and free them. The book also touches on a subject not normally acceptable in today’s time. Polygamy is a special topic in the first 100 pages. Women of that time did not mind being in a multiple partner marriage, she describes it as being an only child and how it is easier to deal with life when there are more people to deal with the problems and that men should deal with everything in the house and not have to go outside the home, cause if they do then they will find other happiness.
One thing, which was brought up in class, is what is the difference from today and now? To think there ideas just 500 years ago are accepted in today’s standard is just ludicrous. I do not understand how someone could have multiply partners in marriage. Jealousy today would run wild; could you even image one woman with multiply male partners? No just ridiculous. To compare polygamy to being an only child is just wild. That is not even close to what we think or see today.
I wish he would have answered more questions about the slavery that was happening. I think this is something that is just not highlighted about in very many books and I would like to know more about it and how it really affected people around them.