How did Arabic and Hebrew literary traditions contribute to Spain’s literary heritage?

Arabic and Hebrew literary traditions were fundamental to the development of Spain’s literary heritage, particularly through their influence on vernacular writing, philosophy, and prose.

Arabic Influence

Arabic culture significantly shaped early Spanish literature. The earliest vernacular texts, known as Mozarabic jarchas (or kharjahs), were preserved within Arabic muwashshah poems, establishing a thematic link to later Spanish lyric traditions like the villancico and Galician-Portuguese cantigas. Arabic also served as a primary conduit for Oriental learning; following the capture of Toledo in 1085, the city became a hub for translating Eastern stories, such as the beast fable Kalilah wa Dimnah, into Spanish. Under Alfonso X, these Arabic sources were synthesized into foundational works of Spanish historiography and science.12

Hebrew Influence

During the "Golden Age" of Hebrew literature (c. 1000–1148), Jewish scholars in Spain adapted Arabic standards of taste, metrics, and philology to revitalize Hebrew verse and grammar. This period fostered a rationalist approach to religious texts, integrating Greek philosophy with faith—a trend exemplified by thinkers like Moses Maimonides. By the 13th century, Jewish scholars acted as vital cultural intermediaries, translating Arabic and Hebrew works into Latin, thereby integrating Spanish thought into the broader Western philosophy tradition.34