In a videotape broadcast on American TV after 9-11, Osama bin Laden once referred to the tragedy of Andalusia, considered the greatest disaster in Muslim history before the re-birth of Israel. The subtitles conveniently forgot to note that Andalusia meant the Iberian Peninsula, and that Muslims want it back. Let the whole world know that we shall never accept that the tragedy of Andalusia would be repeated in Palestine. - Slate When I saw that videotape on TV in 2011, I nearly jumped out of my chair.  As an amateur historian, I knew what was meant. I could not believe that no one noted the connection. We tend to associate Andalusia with Spain, because Spain's southern most province is called Andalusia, an homage to the invaders’ former presence.  In reality, the Arab word Andalus referred to the whole peninsula, not just Spain, and that is what Bin Laden had in mind. Except for a small sliver of land on the Northern Coast of Spain, the whole territory...(Read Full Article)