Silver Spring, MD; April 15, 2008 —Acorn Media announces the June 10, 2008 DVD release of When the Moors Ruled in Europe, a fascinating two-part documentary covering the 700-year history of Islamic rule on the Iberian Peninsula.

British historian Bettany Hughes explores a long-buried chapter of European history—the rise and fall of Islamic culture in what is now Spain and Portugal. Although generations of Spanish rulers have tried to expunge this era from the historical record, recent archaeological evidence and new scholarly insights shed fresh light on the Moors who flourished in Al-Andalus for more than 700 years.

When the Moors Ruled in Europe explodes old stereotypes and offers shocking new insights. You’ll discover the ingenious mathematics behind Granada’s dazzling Alhambra Palace, trace El Cid’s lineage to his Moorish roots, and learn how the Iberian population willingly converted to Islam in droves.

Through interviews with noted scholars, you’ll see how Moorish advances in mathematics, astronomy, art, and agriculture helped propel the West out of the Dark Ages and into the Renaissance. What emerges is a richly detailed portrait of a sensuous, inquisitive, and remarkably progressive Islamic culture in Christian Europe.

Headquartered in suburban Washington, D.C., Acorn Media distributes distinctive home video releases to the North American market with a special focus on the best of British television. Acorn’s DVD sets are available from select retailers, catalog companies, and direct from Acorn Media at (888) 870-8047 or www.acornonline.com.