I wrote the article, The Contradictory Paths of Civilization, when I was 22, just after graduating from university. The books and articles I had read ignited in me a dream: to spiritually conquer the land of 1492. That dream came true in 2012. I first flew to Barcelona, then to Sevilla. From there, I rented a car and set out to explore Sevilla, Córdoba, Granada, Cádiz, and more, seeking to feel, with every step, the historical weight and human meaning behind the Alhambra Decr

The Orientalist trend in the late 19th century was driven by a combination of imperial expansion, technological advancements, artistic...