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Posted on Oct 16, 2023 in History

Conquest of the Iberian Peninsula

• Muslim conquest of the Iberian Peninsula was the continuation of Islmaic expansion across the Mediterranean region.
• It was also possible by a civil war between rival groups of the Visigoth nobility.In 711,one faction requested help from Musa, a Muslim ruler in North Africa.

Muslims defeated the Visigoth King Roderic in the Battle of Guadalete.

^{The independent Emirate of Córdoba}

Most members of the ruling Umayyad family in Damascus were killed when the new Abbasid dynasty took power.Umayyad prince called Ab-al-Rahman I,he founded the independent Emirate of Córdoba in 756.

Caliphate Córdoba(929-1031)

Was creates by Abd al -Rahman III who became its caliph.Ruled through a chief minister(hajib), ministers(viziers) and provincial governors(walis).

The role of the caliph weakened greatly from the late 10th century.Hisham II ws only 11 years old when he became caliph in 976, and a general named Al-Mansur became the real ruler of Al-Anadalus.Al-Mansur conducted raids, or razzias, on Christian territories in the north.

              Taifa States(1031-1086)

Al-Andalus split into small indepent Muslm states called taifas.

• There were many conflicts between the taifas.
• The Christian kingdoms attacked the taifas and forced their rulers to pay parias or tribute..

Christian kingdoms were growing threat to the taifas,especially after they took Toledo in 1085.The following year the Muslims called for help from the Almoravids.

• Almoravids crossed over to the Iberian Peninsula in 1086.Their arrival was at the request of Muslim rulers in Al-Andalus, but they took over the most of the taifa states.They were unable to prevent Christian advances.Al-Andalus fragmented once again into small taifa states in the 1140s.
• Almohads were the succesors of the Almoravids in North Africa, and crossed over in 1147.Conquered the taifa states as well as resisting the Christian kingdoms.Continued to expand in the 12th and 13th centuries.

They achieved a great victory over the Almohads in the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa. Almohad authority collapsedd and Christian kingdoms conquered all of the Iberian Peninsula by the mid-13th century,except for Granada.

        Nasrid Kingdom of Granada

In the south-east Spain was the last surviving Muslim territory on the Iberian Peninsula.Was never military strong,it was fairly prosperous thanks to trade and agriculture.Monarchs survive as an independent state because it paid them large amounts of tribute and provided military assistance. Wealth to create the Alhambra, an extraordinary complex of palaces, was built during 14th and 15th centuries.The kingdom was weakened by internal conflict between noble families and the Nasrid dynasty. Was conquered by the Catholic Monarchs in 1492.

Life in Al-Andalus

A diverse society

• Arabs, from the Middle East, were the land-owning aristrocracy and held political power.
• Berbers,from North Arica, also helped to conquer the Iberian Peninsula. However, they receied less land and wealth than the Arabs, and sometimes rebelled against their authority.

Initially, Muslims were only a very small minority of the population.However, many Christians (Muladis) converted to Islam and adopted Muslim customs.

Christians and Jews are allowed to practice their religion as long as the paid taxes:

• Mozarabs were Christians who ddn´t converttto Islam.As the Christian kingdoms expanded,some Mozarabs left Al-Andalus to live in the Christian north.
• Jews were merchants,artisans ans scholars.They lived in seperate neighbourhoods called Jewish quarters.

Life in cities

• Like other Muslim cities, each Andalusi city had a walled centre called a medina.Was wtere the alcázar (fortress), the main mosque and souks (markets) were located.
• Water was a key resource.Large cities had gardens irrigated by canals, public fountains with drinking water and sewage systems.
• Hammams (public baths) were seperate for men and women.Baths were meeting places, where prople discussed the news and events of the day.

Economy

• Agriculture.Most of the populatioo of Al-Andalus was dedicated to agricultural work.Grains. grapes and olives, as well as fruit trees, were grown in Al-Andalus.The Muslims developed irrigation techniques and intoduced new crops such as cotton,rice,aubergines and artichokes.Farmers sold their products in the souks of nearby cities.
• Craftwork.Cratsmen developed high-quality products.Skilled craftsmen worked mainly in ceramics,leather,precious metals and silk.Craftsmen with a particular speciality lived and worked in the same area, so there were neighbouhoods pf leather workers,weavers and potters.
• Trade.Al-Andalus was a busy trade centre.It exported crafts and imported gold and slaves.There were 2 coins:gold dinar and silver dirham.

Andalusi culture and art

Architecture

Built mosques,public baths,castles and palaces.Used simple materials such as bricks, which were covered with abundant decoration to give them a luxurious appearance. Artists used plant motifs,geometric patterns and inscriptions of poems and verses from the Quran.

• Horseshoe,pointed horseshoe and multifoil arches were supported by columns and pillars.The different features were sometimes used in the same building.
• Latticework (strips of wood or other materials forming intricate patterns) and stained glass windows created interesting effects of light and shade.
• Water was used in numerous fountains and pools and created a cool and pleasant atmosphere.
• Roofs were usually flat and made of wood.However,mosques had richly decorated domes.

Cultural achivements

• Libraries.In the 10th century, the caliph Al-HakamII amassed a huge library, which was claimed to have over 400,00 books.
• Poetry was a popular art.Court poets were paid a salary.
• Philosophy and science.Muslim philosophers and scientists like Averroes and Avempace had great influence.Maimonides was a leading Jewish philosopher.