alhambra granada, spania (df)
TRANSCRIPT
Alhambra - Granada
Advance automatically after a few seconds. First created. 18 Dec 2007. Version 3.0. Sep
2010. London. Jerry Tse.All rights reserved. Available free for non-commercial and non-profit use only
Nasrid Palace
History of Al Andalus and Moorish Spain
Al-Andalus 1035
In 711, an invading force of Muslims made up of Arabs from
Damascus and Berber from North Africa defeated the Visigoth
of Spain. This gave rise to the most brilliant civilization of
early medieval Europe. The Muslim settlers, the Moors
called Spain, Al Andalus. By 714, the Moors were in control
of all of Spain, except for a narrow strip along the north coast.
A rich and powerful caliphate (a kind of Islamic Republic) was established in Cordoba and
mathematics, science, architecture and the decorative arts flourished. Together with Christian and
Jews, they studies and translated the discoveries and achievements of the Ancient Greek into books,
which eventually found their ways into Italy and became the driving forces behind the Renaissance.
As time went by the Cordoba caliphate broke up into smaller kingdoms, as the Christian north regained
some of the lost territories (see map).
In 1492, Ferdinand II and Isabella re-conquered Spain, by defeating the last of the Islamic kingdoms,
Emirate of Granada. This ended over 700 years of Islamic rules in Spain. The last of the Islamic
palace, the Nasrid Palace at Alhambra in Granada fell into the possession of the Catholic Monarchs,
Ferdinand II and Isabella.
Patio de los Leones (Courtyard of the lions) has a fountain in the middle connecting to the surround rooms with
water channels, help to cool the airs.
History and Art of the Palace
The palace is only a part of the Alhambra,
which included other palaces, gardens and
even a fortress.
The palace was built in the 14C, before 1492,
when emirate fell into the Spanish hands.
Therefore the palace reflects the culture of the
last century of Moorish rules. The palace is a
testament of the skills of Muslim, Jew and
Christian artisans, craftsmen and builders of
the time.
Horse-shoe arches, developed during the
Islamic rules were widely used in particular
around the courtyards. Stalactite-like lantern
ceilings were used in several chambers. The
lantern ceilings created drafts around
fountains that help to cool the rooms
There were extensive uses of stucco
decorated with calligraphy and arabesques
intricate geometric patterns.