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A comprehensive study of any aspect of the Middle Ages in the Iberian Peninsula cannot be thoroughly and successfully undertaken without due consideration to both its Western and Eastern social, cultural and political constituents. In the particular case of Medieval Castilian Literature, the frequent translations from Arabic and works otherwise affected by factors conditioned by the Islamic settlement in Western Europe would require a certain familiarity with those models; however, this has seldom happened on account of either sheer ignorance or an ideological prejudice against the Eastern contribution to human culture and civilization. This article aims to show the negative impact of such lacks in an otherwise impressive and excellent work like the Diccionario de la prosa de Alfonso X by Kasten & Nitti and to insist on the need for new editions of such characteristics by teams able to handle every cultural ingredient of that milieu.

A comprehensive study of any aspect of the Middle Ages in the Iberian Peninsula cannot be thoroughly and successfully undertaken without due consideration to both its Western and Eastern social, cultural and political constituents. In the particular case of Medieval Castilian Literature, the frequent translations from Arabic and works otherwise affected by factors conditioned by the Islamic settlement in Western Europe would require a certain familiarity with those models; however, this has seldom happened on account of either sheer ignorance or an ideological prejudice against the Eastern contribution to human culture and civilization. This article aims to show the negative impact of such lacks in an otherwise impressive and excellent work like the Diccionario de la prosa de Alfonso X by Kasten & Nitti and to insist on the need for new editions of such characteristics by teams able to handle every cultural ingredient of that milieu., Un estudio de conjunto de cualquier aspecto de la Edad Media en la Península Ibérica no puede llevarse a cabo con éxito total, sin atender a sus facetas sociales, culturales y políticas tanto occidentales, como mediorientales. En el caso particular de la literatura castellana medieval, la presencia frecuente de traducciones y obras afectadas de otros modos por las consecuencias de la presencia islámica en Europa Occidental requiere un cierto conocimiento también de esos modelos, pero esto ha ocurrido sólo rara vez, bien por mera ignorancia, o bien por una prevención ideológica contra la contribución oriental a la cultura y civilización humanas. El propósito de este artículo es mostrar el impacto negativo de tales carencias en una obra por lo demás excelente y admirable como es el Diccionario de la prosa de Alfonso X de Kasten & Nitti, e insistir en la necesidad para futuras ediciones de obras con estas características de equipos con capacidad de manejar todos los ingredientes culturales de aquel medio.