historia

UNIT 4

IN 711, A SMALL GROUP OF ARABS AND BERBERS CROSSED STRAIT OF GIBRALTAR UNDER THE COMMAND OF TARIQ. THEIR INTENTION WAS TO LOOT AND PLUNDER. EASILY DEFEATED THE VISIGOTHIC KING RODRIGO AT THE GUADALETE,711, THEY CONTINUE THEIR ADVANCE.

PENINSULA OFFERED LITTLE RESISTANCE AND WAS QUICKLY OCCUPIED. THE CAUSES WERE MUSLIM MILITARY SUPERIORITY, INTERNATIONAL CONFLICTS OF THE VISIGOTHS, AND SUPPORT OFFERED TO THE INVADERS BY JESUS AND VISIGOTHS NOBLES.

IN THE NORTHERN MOUNTAINOUS REGION, WHERE CERTAIN GROUPS OF CHRISTIAN RESISTANCE EMERGED, MUSLIMS WERE DEFEATED BY THE ASTURIANS IN THE BATTLE OF COVADONGA. (722) THEY CALLED THE CONQUERED REGION AL-ANDALUS.

THE INDEPENDENT EMIRATE(756-929)

IN 755,ABD AL-RAHMAN 1 REACHED PENINSULA, FLEEING FROM THE DETHRONEMENT ASSASSINATION OF HIS FAMILY BY THE ABBASIDS.DEFEATING THE EMIR OF AL-ANDALUS,HE PROCLAIMED HIMSELF THE INDEPENDENT EMIR IN 156. DURING THIS TIME,AL-ANDALUS SUFFERED CONFLICTS.

THE CALIPHATE OF CÓRDOBA AND THE TAIFAS(929-1031)

IN THE YEAR 929,ABD AL-RAHMAN 3 BROKE AWAY FROM RELIGIOUS DEPENDENCE ON BAGHDAD AND PROCLAIMED HIMSELF CALIPH. A PERIOD OF GREAT POLITICAL AND CULTURAL SPLENDOUR IN AL-ANDALUS.ABD AL-RAHMAN REORGANISED ARMY,ENDED THE INTERNAL REVOLTS AND CONDUCTED PUNITIVE EXPEDITIONS AGAINST THE PENINSULAR CHRISTIAN KINGDOMS.IN THIS PERIOD,CORDOBA BECAME THE MOST IMPORTANT CITY IN THE WEST.

CALIPHATE OFFICIALLY ENDURED UNTIL 1031.THE GOVERNORS OF THE GOVERNORS OF THE DIFFERENT PROVINCES DECLARED THEMSELVES INDEPENDENT 28 SMALL TAIFAS WHICH SUBSISTED UNTIL 1086.

THE GOVERNMENT AND ADMINISTRATION WAS HELD BY THE EMIRS AND CALIPHS, THEY DIRECTED THE ADMINISTRATION, POLITICS, ARMY, AND JUSTICES. CALIPHS HAD RELIGIOUS POWER. THE TERRITORY WAS ORGANISED INTO PROVINCES, O CORAS. THEY HAD 1 CAPITAL AND THE SURROUND TERRITORY, AND EACH PROVINCE HAS ONE GOVERNOR AND A JUDGE.

THE BASIS OF THE ECONOMY WAS THE AGRICULTURE, WHICH WERE TRADITIONAL MEDITERRANEAN PRODUCTS LIKE WINE AND CEREALS IN DRY LANDS. AND WETLANDS WERE USED FOR SUGAR CANE, RICE, ORANGES, LEMONS…

MUSLIMS EXTENDED IRRIGATION WITH THE CREATION OF CANALS, RESERVOIRS, AND WATERWHEELS.

PRIMARY SECTOR WAS COMPLETED WITH THE LIVESTOCK FARMING FOCUSED ON BREEDING SHEEP, HORSES AND SILKWORMS AND FISHING. MINING EXPLOITED METALS SUCH AS IRON, COPPER, LEAD, GOLD, SILVER, MERCURY, AND TIN. SALT MINES WERE IMPORTANT.

THE MAIN ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES OF THE CITIES WERE TRADE AND CRAFTS.CRAFTS PRODUCED COTTON,LINES, AND SILK,CERAMICS,GLASS OBJECTS.PAPYRUS AND PAPER, AND PARCHMENT WERE MADE.

MINTING GOLD AND SILVER COINS FAVOURED TRADE.DOMESTIC TRADE WAS BOOSTED BY THE STRATEGIC LOCATION.THE ALANDUSI MERCHANTS SOLD FOOD PRODUCTS,RAW MATERIALS AND GOODS MANUFACTURED IN CITIES. THEY BROUGHT LUXURY GOODS(SPICES,GOLD,IVORY AND SLAVES)

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IN ANDALUSI SOCIETY THERE WERE DIFFERENT ETHNIC GROUPS.

THE ARISTOCRACY OR JASSA.A SMALL GROUP FORMED BY THE FAMILY MEMBERS OF THE CALIPH AND THE ARAB CONQUERORS, SOME PEOPLE.THEY HELD HIGH POSITIONS AND POSSESSED EXTENSIVE PROPERTIES.

THE MASS OF THE POPULATION OR AMMA. THEY MADE UP THE REST OF SOCIETY AND INCLUDED THE PEASANTS AND CITY DWELLERS. THEY CONSISTED MOSTLY OF THE OLD HISPANIC POPULATION OF THE VISIGOTH PERIOD, WHICH IN CERTAIN CASES MAINTAINED THEIR CHRISTIAN RELIGION AND CUSTOMS AND WERE CALLED THE MOZARABS.IN ADDITION, THERE WERE MINORITY GROUPS SUCH AS THE BERBER CONQUERORS, FROM THE NORTH OF AFRICA; THE JEWS, AND THE SLAVES.

THE KEY FESTIVITIES WERE THOSE THAT CELEBRATED THE END OF FASTING DURING RAMADAN AND THE FEAST OF THE SACRIFICE AT THE END OF THE PILGRIMAGE. CHESS AND BACKGAMMON, WHICH ORIGINATED IN PERSIA, WERE PLAYED FOR ENTERTAINMENT.

MEN COVERED THEIR LEGS WITH BAGGY TROUSERS AND WOMEN WITH CLOTH BANDS. BOTH SEXES WORE TUNICS. ON THEIR FEET THEY WORE SANDALS, SLIPPERS, CANVAS SHOES, ANKLE BOOTS, AND HIGH BOOTS. THE MEN WORE TURBANS AND THE WOMEN WORE HEADDRESSES AND SCARVES TO COVER THEIR FACE WHEN THEY LEFT THEIR HOMES.

BASIC EDUCATION WAS GIVEN IN THE KORANIC SCHOOLS WHERE CHILDREN LEARNT TO READ AND WRITE, TO RECITE THE KORAN AND AQUIRED CERTAIN NOTIONS OF MATHEMATICS AND GRAMMAR.

HIGHER EDUCATION WAS PROVIDED BY THE MADRASAS OR UNIVERSITIES, ACCESS TO WHICH WAS MUCH MORE RESTRICTED. THEY STUDIED THE KORAN AND SUBJECTS SUCH AS HISTORY, PHILOLOGY, MATHEMATICS, ASTRONOMY, MEDICINE AND PHILOSOPHY.

—————————————————————————————————–AL-ANDALUS RECEIVED AND SPREAD CLASSICAL GREEK FROM THE EASTERN PART OF THE MUSLIM EMPIRE THROUGHOUT CHRISTIAN EUROPE. IT ALSO BECAME AN IMPORTANT CULTURAL CENTRE DURING THE CALIPHATE AND REACHED ITS GREATEST SPLENDOUR UNDER ABD AL-RAHMAN 3 AND AL-HAKAM 3.

IBN HAZM: LITERATURE    MASLAMA AL-MAJRITI: SCIENCE   ABU AL-QASIM AL-ZAHRAW: MEDICAL TREATISE.

THE MOST IMPORTANT ARTISTIC MANIFESTATIONS OF THE CALIPHATE WERE THE MOSQUE OF CORDOBA AND THE MEDINA AZAHARA PALACE.

THE MOSQUE OF CORDOBA WAS EXTENDED AS THE POPULATION OF THE CITY GREW. THE FIRST BUILDING WAS BUILT BY ABD AL-RAHMAN THE FIRST IN 785.

THE PRAYER HALL CONSISTED OF SEVERAL NAVES, SEPARATED BY DOUBLE ARCHES MADE UP OF A LOWER HORSESHOE ARCH AND A HIGHER SEMICIRCULAR ARCH. A LINTELED CEILING RESTS ON THE ARCHES. DOUBLE-WALLED QIBLA; RIBBED VAULTS AND WINDOWS, AND THE MIHRAB WITH RICH MOSAIC DECORATION.

THE MINARET IS SITUATED IN THE COURTYARD AND SERVES TO CALL THE FAITHFUL TO PRAYER. THERE IS ALSO A FOUNTAIN FOR PURIFICATION BEFORE ENTERING TO PRAY.

THE CITY-PALACE OF MEDINA AZAHARA WAS BUILT IN THE 10TH CENTURY BY ABD AL-RAHAMAN 3 ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF CORDOBA.

IT WAS SURROUNDED BY A WALL AND ORGANISED INTO THREE TERRACES. THE RESIDENCE OF THE CALIPH WAS LOCATED ON THE TOPMOST TERRACE. THE SECOND TERRACE WAS THE OFFICIAL AREA AND THE THIRD HELD IN THE CITY AND HOMES OF THE CITIZENS AND CRAFTSMEN.

—————————————————————————————————-AFTER MUSLIM CONQUEST, CHRISTIAN RESISTANCE GROUPS FORMED IN THE CANTABRIAN MOUNTAINS AND THE PYRENEES.

KINGDOM OF ASTURIAS WAS ESTABLISHED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE 8TH CENTURY IN THE CANTABRIAN MOUNTAINS AT COVADONGA(722). PELAYO´S SUCCESSORS ESTABLISHED CAPITAL IN OVIEDO(808).    IN 914, ORDOÑO 2 MOVED THE CAPITAL TO LEÓN. KINGDOM OF LEÓN WAS CREATED. IT HAD TO DEAL WITH THE MUSLIM ATTACKS AND THE DESIRE FOR INDEPENDENCE ON THE PART OF THE COUNTRY OF CASTILLA, WHICH IN 1030 JOINED THE KINGDOM OF PAMPLONA. FERNANDO 1  LATER INHERITED THE COUNTRY OF CASTILLA AND TURNED IT INTO AN INDEPENDENT KINGDOM (1035)

FORMED IN PAMPLONA,ARAGÓN AND CATALONIA.

KINGDOM OF PAMPLONA EMERGED IN THE WESTERN PYRENEES.RONCESVALLES(778) AND BEGAN EXPANSION THROUGH LA RIOJA. THE KINGDOM REACHED ITS PEAK AT THE BEGINNING OF THE 11TH CENTURY DURING THE REIGN OF SANCHO 3 THE GREAT.

THE ARAGONESE GROUP CENTRAL PYRENEES, BECAME PART OF THE KINGDOM OF PAMPLONA(940). RAMIRO 1 INHERITED THE COUNTRY AND TURNED IT INTO AN INDEPENDENT KINGDOM.

THE CATALAN COUNTRIES ORIGINATED IN THE EASTERN PYRENEES. FRANKS TURNED IT INTO THE SPANISH MARCH WHICH DIVIDED IT INTO COUNTRIES. WILFRED THE HAIRY UNITED THE COUNTRIES(878). AT THE END OF THE 10TH CENTURY (988) GAINED INDEPENDENCE FROM THE FRANKS.

—————————————————————————————————–THE TERRITORY CONQUERED FROM THE MUSLIMS WAS SCARCE AND CONSISTED BASICALLY OF THE DUERO RIVER BASIN.

RESETTLEMENT CONSISTED OF INSTALLING A NEW POPULATION AND CULTIVATING THE LAND TAKEN FROM THE MUSLIMS(PRESURA/APRISIO)

ADMINISTRATION OF THE TERRITORY WAS ORGANISATED INTO DISTRICTS SURROUNDING THE CASTLE.

AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES BASIS ON THE ECONOMY.CRAFTS AND TRADE WERE VERY SCARCE,AND WERE CONCENTRATED IN THE FEW EXISTENCE CITIES. EARLY IN THE 11TH CENTURIES, THE THREE MOST IMPORTANT CITIES OF THE CHRISTIAN PENINSULAR TERRITORY,WERE SANTIAGO,LEÓN AND BARCELONA.

MUSLIMS SOCIETY WAS MADE UP OF NUMEROUS FREE PEASANTS, WHO OWNED THEY WORKED.

POWERFUL MEN: NOBILITY        ABBOTS: MONASTERIES.

PRE-ROMANESQUE ART INCLUDES CHRISTIANS ARTISTIC MANIFESTATIONS PRIOR TO THE ARRIVAL OF ROMANESQUE TO THE PENINSULA. THESE MANIFESTATIONS ARE CALLED ASTURIANS AND MOZARABIC ART.

* ASTURIAN ART: IT DEVELOPED BETWEEN THE END OF THE 8TH AND BEGINNINGS OF THE 10TH CENTURIES IN THE KINGDOMS OF ASTURIAS.

* MOZARABIC ART: IT DEVELOPED IN THE 10TH CENTURY, IN THE DUERO VALLEY REPOPULATED BY CHRISTIANS WHO FLED FROM AL-ANDALUS.

7.2    IN 813,A HERMIT DISCOVERED A TOMB IN GALICIA WHICH WAS IDENTIFIED AS THAT OF THE APOSTLE ST. JAMES.

THE ROUTE WAS ALSO CALLED CAMINO FRANCÉS OR JACOBEAN ROUTE, AND WAS MADE UP OF FOUR BRANCHES THAT STARTED IN FRANCE.

THE CAMINO DE SANTIAGO WAS MUCH MORE THAN A RELIGIOUS ROUTE. OVER THE TIME,THE PILGRIMAGE FAVOURED THE DEVELOPMENT OF CRAFTS AND TRADE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE PILGRIMS.

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ROMANESQUE ART WAS INTRODUCED TO THE PENINSULA FROM THE NORTHERN SIDEOF THE PYRENEES.

*THE CATALAN SCHOOL:   CATALAN ROMANESQUE CORRESPONDS TO THE FIRST ROMANESQUE OF THE END OF THE 10TH CENTURY.LOMBARD ARCHITECTURE.THE MOST PROMINENET EXAMPLES ARE SAN CLEMENTE (LLOBREGAT) AND SANTA MARÍA DE TAÜLL.

*CASTILLIAN-ARAGONESE SCHOOL:  THE USE OF REGULAR STONES , VAULTS SUPPORTED BY TRANSVERSE ARCHES AND THE FULL INCORPORATION OF SCULPTURE. THE MOST REPRESENTATIVE BUILDINGS WERE THE CATHEDRAL OF JACA AND THE MONASTERY OF SANTA MARÍA DE SANGÜESA.  SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA BEGAN ITS CONSTRUCTION IN 1075.

8.2.ROMANESQUE  SCULPTURE WAS MAINLY CONCENTRATED IN THE CAPITALS AND THE FACADES OF CHURCHES. MURAL PAINTING WAS USED TO DECORATED THE INSIDE OF THE CHURCHES, AND SOME OF THE MOST OUTSTANDING EXAMPLES ARE THE APSES OF SAN CLEMENTE AND THE ROYAL PANTHEON OF SAN ISIDORO.