During the 8th century, Muslims were expanding their empire and in the 7th century they managed to define the best strategy to conquer North Africa and Southern Europe . According to Western Society: A Brief History, “In 711 a Muslim force crossed the Strait of Gibraltar and easily defeated the weak Visgoth king.” The Muslims ended up conquering much of Spain, and for a short time Muslims and Christians coexisted peacefully. Then a certain animosity arose between Muslims and Christians. Muslims felt superior to European countries and believed that Europe had little to offer showing their lack of interest in their culture, language and customs. Christians felt threatened by Muslims due to their expansion and felt that Muslim culture would contaminate Christian ways and teachings. This animosity turned into bitter gall and eventually led to war. Comparing The Song of Orlando with the History of the Conquest of Spain, this article focuses on the Muslim invasion of Spain in 711 AD with particular emphasis on the nature of warfare. In the book The Song of Orlando, translated by Glyn Burgess, he talks about the Franks fighting the Muslims in Spain in the city of Zaragoza. The Franks are offered gold and the promise to convert to Christianity if they return to France, and Charlemagne's army accepts the offer. Roland then chooses Ganelon, who is also his stepfather, as a messenger to return to Marsilla's court to inform him of the deal. While traveling with the Saracens, he discovers a plan for revenge against Rolando because he has always envied and hated him. He tells the Saracens how they can ambush and attack Charlemagne's army, which would be led by Roland and the Fran...... center of the card ......ain favors a Muslim. So, given the biased nature of both stories, more research is obviously needed if you want to separate fact from fiction in each book. Works Cited Abd-El-Hakem, Ibn. History of the conquest of Spain. Trans. John H. Jones. London: Williams & Norgate, 1858.Dominik, Mark. "The Holy War in Orlando's Song: The "Mythologizing" of History." Stanford Undergraduate Research Journal. http://surj.stanford.edu/archives/2003-04HolyWar.html (accessed March 29, 2011). Mckay, Hill, Buckler, Crowston, Wiesner-Hanks. Western Society: A Brief History. Vol 1.Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martin, 2010.__________. Rolando's song. Trans. Glyn Burgess. London: Penguin Books, 1990.SparkNotes Editors. "SparkNote on Roland's Song." SparkNotes LLC. nd.http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/songofroland/ (accessed March 29, 2011).