Influence of the Semitic Race on Civilization--Enterprise of the Ancient Jews--Their Eminent Talents--Their Power during the Middle Ages--Their Universal Proscription--Their Condition under the Moors of Spain--Their Extraordinary Attainments--Their Devotion to Letters--Their Academies--Rabbis as Ambassadors of the Khalifs--Learned Men--Poets, Physicians, Statesmen, Philosophers--Maimonides: His Genius and His Works--His Character--Preponderating Influence of the Spanish Jews in Government and Society--Their Necessity to the Ruling Classes--They are driven to Usury--Their Prosperity--They are favored by Alfonso X. and Pedro el Cruel--Their Proficiency in Medicine--Obligations of Mediæval and Modern Science to the Jews--Their Wonderful Survival under Oppression--Their Exile from the Peninsula--Their Sufferings--The Taint of Hebrew Blood in the Aristocracy of Spain and Portugal 105 CHAPTER XXV THE CHRISTIANS UNDER MOSLEM RULE Scarcity of Information concerning the Tributary Christians--Supremacy of the Church under the Visigoths--Independence of the Spanish Hierarchy--Its Wealth--Civil Organization of the Christians under the Moors--Their Privileges--Restrictions imposed upon Them--Freedom of Worship--Churches, Monasteries, and Convents--Conditions in Sicily--Greater Severity of the Laws in that Island--Anomaly in the Ecclesiastical Government of Spain--The Khalif the Virtual Head of the Church--Abuse of His Power--Results of the Arab Occupation of Septimania--Increased Authority of the Spanish Hierarchy resulting from its Isolation--Social Life of the Christian Tributaries--Their Devotion to Arab Learning--They are employed by the Khalifs in Important Missions--Innate Hostility of Moslem and Christian--Number and Influence of the Renegades--The Martyrs--Causes of Persecution--Contrast between the Maxims and Policy of the Two Religions--Impediments to Racial Amalgamation 177 CHAPTER XXVI THE MORISCOES