Muslim Rule in Spain

(711 – 1492 AD)

Introduction

• I’ll will present the happenings in Spain from 711-1492 while Arabs were in the Iberian Peninsula plus their links with Holy Prophet & other Muslim dynasties

• Studying past Muslim historical events shows their influence on modern Spain

Modern practicing Mosque in Cordoba.

Connection of the Links of Caliphs

Omayyad Caliphs

Omayyads of Cordova

Summary of Periods of Islamic Spanish Occupation 711-1492

I. Al-Andalus (711-56) --Berber expansion, period of conquest and

consolidation

II. Independent Umayyad Emirate (756-929) --Cordoba established by Abd al Rahman I as

capital III. Umayyad Caliphate (929-1031) --Abd alRahman III (caliph) --advisers: wazirs

IV. Taifa Kingdoms (1031-1090)

V. Almoravides and Almohades occupation (1090-1212)

VI. Nasrid Kingdom of Granada (1235-1492)

Initial Invasion

The Dependent Emirate (711 to 756)

• April 30th of 711, Berber leader Tariq ibn-ziyad landed at Gibraltar

• The Battle of Guadalete (turning point)

• The Battle of Tours in 732

711-929

929-

1031

1031-

1090

1090-1212

1212-1492

Tariq ibn-ziyad

Arabic Invasion711 Tarik crosses the Strait of Gibraltar

ROUTES OF MUSLIM INVADERS

Initial Invasion

The Independent Emirate (756 to 929) 756- the exiled prince Abd-ar-Rahman I

established himself as the Emir of Codoba. And established a tenuous rule of much of Al-

Andalus For the next century and a half, his descendants

continued as emirs of Cordoba. In 929 Abd-al-Rahman III proclaimed himself

Caliph

711-929

929-103

1

1031-

1090

1090-1212

1212-1492

After the Umayyad caliphate of Damascus was overthrown in 750 by the Abbasids, the last surviving member of the Umayyad dynasty fled to Spain and named himself Emir Abd al-Rahman I. He then created the Umayyad emirate and made Cordoba the capital. He also build al-Andalus and established diplomatic ties with the northern Christian empires, the Byzantine empire, and North Africa.

Emir Abd al-Rahman I

Showing Regions Under Ummayads & Christians

The Caliphate of Cordoba

• All Caliphs of Córdoba were members of the Umayyad dynasty

• Cordoba reached its peak under these Caliphate rulers

• Caliphate rule existed until 1031 when it was fractured into a number of independent taifas.

711-929

929-

1031

1031-

1090

1090-1212

1212-1492

The Caliphate of CordobaCaliphate Rulers

Abd-ar-rahman III (912–961) Allowed tolerance and

freedom of religion Repelled enemies

with alliances in Africa

al-Hakam II (961–976) Peace with Christian kingdoms Stability of agriculture Economic and philosophic

improvements Mezquita

Hisham II (976–1013) Gained title at age ten

Almansur Dictator rule

711-929

929-

1031

1031-

1090

1090-1212

1212-1492

AL-ANDALUS MAP SHOWING AREA UNDER CALIPHATE

Rain of the Taifas Kingdoms1031-1090

After the death of the caliphate in Cordoba, only a few decades passed before the complete collapse of Muslim presence was unstoppable.

These kings, formerly known as party kings (in Arabic mulukal-tawa'if, from the word ta'ifah), continued to improve upon modern arts and learning by competing with one another for the most spectacular states.

In doing so, they took in many scientist and artist who needed the resources to improve upon their own skills.

From 1008 to 1031, a period of anarchy in the Al-Andalus caused more or less 24 individual smaller states to form. These rulers, owning their

own territories, were known as the muluk al-tawa'if, and each of these states did not contain enough power through force to become the sole caliphate of the lands.

711-929 929-1031

1031-1090

1090-1212

1212-1492

Taifa Kingdoms (Petty Dynasties)

• Banu Hammudids of Malaga• Banu Ziri of Granada• Mamluks of South East Spain• Banu Hud of Saragosa• Banu Dhiral-Num of Toledo• Banu Abbad of Seville

Taifas Kingdoms When Christian kingdoms began taking over

weak Taifa kingdoms, by "exacting tribute", no one in the Al Andalus took action to stop the conversions.

Much of the north had already been taken over by the ever increasing presence of the Christians.

By 1085 the Castilians conquered the important city of Toledo and so the Taifas kings were forced to ask the new Almoravid ruler in Morocco (Yusuf ibn Tashufin) for assistance.

The Almoravids (in Arabic, "The Garrisoned Ones") were a dynasty risen from the Amazighs (Berbers) of Morocco, and until this time were steadfast to assist the taifa kings.

711-929 929-1031

1031-1090

1090-1212

1212-1492

Banu Dhual-Num of Toledo

Mamluks of South East Spain

Banu Hud of Zaragoza

Banu Abbad of SevilleBanu Ziri of Granada

Banu Hamud of Malaga

Map Showing Petty Dynasties

After the second and third Taifas were created as a result of fragmentation of the Peninsula, north Africa took this advantage to invade. The first to invade were the Almoravides, the second were the Almohads, and the third were the Banu Marins. By the middle of the 13th century, Islamic Spain, due to their progressive weakening, was reduced to Nasrid kingdom in Granada, which is located between the Strait of Gibraltar and the Cape of Gata.

Spain After the Taifas

Almohads and Almoravids

• Berber (Muslim dynasty) founded in the 12th century• Conquered all Northern Africa along with Al-Andalus

known as the Moorish Iberia

711-929

929-

1031

1031-

1090

1090-1212

1212-1492

Almohads and Almoravids

• Berber dynasty from the Sahara• 1097- Yusuf ibn Tashfin was the Amir al Muslimin• 1119- Ali ibn Yusuf, Sintra, and Santarem were in

charge after Yusuf´s death

711-929

929-

1031

1031-

1090

1090-1212

1212-1492

Almohads and Almoravids

1130- Abd al-Mu’Min al-Kumi and the Almohads defeated the ruling Almoravids

1147- The conquered city of Marrakech by the Almohads marked the end of the Almoravids

Extended his power all over northern Africa as far as Libya

1170- The Almohads transferred their capital to Seville

711-929

929-

1031

1031-

1090

1090-1212

1212-1492

Decline Kingdom of Granada

Gharnata Almohads Nasrid Dynasty Surrendered by Boabdil on

Jan 2, 1492

Resulting Influence: El Flamenco Las Alpujarras Architecture (Alhambra)

711-929

929-

1031

1031-

1090

1090-1212

1212-1492

Nasrids of Granada

Boabdil was the last Moorish king of Granada. In 1482, he was proclaimed the king in place of his father who had been driven from the land. He invaded Castile in order to gain prestige, but was taken prisoner. He was only granted freedom if he held Granada as a tributary kingdom under King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. In 1491, he was asked by the king and queen of Castile to hand over Granada, but because he refused, it was besieged by the Castilians. After about a year, Granada surrendered, and the last spot that Boabdil was said to have looked at Granada from was is still shown and is known as the “ last sigh of the Moor.”

Boabdil

Decline Kingdom of Granada

Almohads Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa in 1212 Almohad Army Despeñaperros Pass

Moorish Period – Nasrid Dynasty Political instability Golden Age of Andalucia Cultural Flowering

711-929

929-

1031

1031-

1090

1090-1212

1212-1492

Decline Kingdom of Granada

• Decline of Empire– Records destroyed

• Possible Reasons:– Internal Struggles– Dynastic and factional strife– Lacking sufficient forces– Refusing to pay tribute to King of Castile

711-929

929-

1031

1031-

1090

1090-1212

1212-1492

After the Spanish Inquisition was created, Kind Ferdinand and Queen Isabella wanted to drive out the Muslims and Jews, because they were considered a threat to their ambition. The army was to capture anyone who didn’t follow the Roman Catholic faith. To do this, the army would check men’s genitals to see if they were circumcised. The army would spy on them, and if they bathed on Fridays or wore beautiful clothes of Eid, then they were killed. Even some weak and frail Muslims who thought the only way to be saved was to denounce Islam and convert to Christianity were also killed.

Muslim Oppression

Loss• 1453: Constantinople falls in East• 1469: European Christians-Castille, Aragon and

Leon united Ferdinand and Isabelle• Pope Authorizes Spanish Inquisitions-originally

for lapsed Christians• Torquemada- Hammer of Spain-Grand Inquisitor• Last Chapter of Al Andalus• 1492: Granada split with son of emir-uses

Christian allies to fight father• Ferdinand and Isabelle tour Alhambra• Jews convert or expelled-end of Reconquista• 1609: Muslim convert expelled from Spain

AN OVERVIEW OF GLORIOUS AL-

ANDALUS…MAGNIFICENT CITIES

& ITS CULTURE

TOLEDOCITY OF TOLERANCE

• Jews• Christians• Muslims• Influence of all 3

still evident today– Synagogues– Churches, cathedral– Arab style

architecture (Mudejar)

GRANADA

LA ALHAMBRA

Córdoba

• largest city in Western Europe

• paved streets

Córdoba

• largest city in Western Europe

• paved streets

Córdoba• public baths• fountains• gardens• prosperous

economy • streets lit by lamps

at night

A Great Cultural Center

• 70 libraries– largest library had 400,000

books

• caliphs of Córdoba wanted to outshine the Abbasid caliphs of Baghdad

A Golden Age in the West

mathematicsgeography

astronomy

philosophy medicine

Mathematics

• Used math to create more accurate calendars

Astronomy

• developed tables that showed the location of the sun and other planets at different times of the year

Geography

• Al-Idrisi–wrote an

encyclopedia of geographic knowledge• contained 70 maps

and descriptions of the geography of many world regions

Medicine

• al-Zahrawi–wrote medical

encyclopedia• covered topics such

as surgery and how to care for and repair teeth

Averroes (1126-1198)

• Andalusian qadi, physician, philosopher in the Aristotelian tradition, and author of important commentaries on the works of Aristotle, as well as on music, astronomy, medicine and jurisprudence (over 20,000 pages).

Philosophy

• the rational investigation of the truths and principles of being, knowledge, or conduct

• Ibn Rushd – studied Plato and Aristotle– his work helped reintroduce classical

Greek philosophy to Europe

Ibn Sina (Avicenna) -1037

• A universal scholar, the most influential philosopher and physician of the Islamic east in the Middle Ages, who interpreted Greek metaphysics in the framework of Islam.

• Known in the West as the Galen of the Muslim world.

A Golden Age for Jews

• Jews were persecuted by Christian• The Muslims tolerated “people of the book”

– Jews and Christians

• Many Jews who faced persecution came to al-Andalus

Maimonides 1135-1204

• Enormous influence on European thought

• Wrote works in Arabic• Guide to the Perplexed: An

effective synthesis of medieval Judaism with the philosophy of Aristotle: Reason is the primary source of human knowledge, but it remains acceptable to rely on faith in cases beyond the reach of rationality. Suggests philosophical reasoning not helpful to most ordinary people who are advised to rely on faith.

• Book of Commandments codified Talmudic law.

Modern arab influence

• Gardens and presence of flowers in parks and plazas• Flamenco dance (Muslim, Jewish, and gypsy roots)• Arabic Baths• Architecture: gothic style, relief work, arches• Courtyards

The Caliphate of Cordoba

• Muslim praise and value of gardens

• Economy– highly developed

craftsmanship, modern agricultural techniques

– based on money (gold cordobesa money)

• Culture– Library with 400,000

volumes– Highly philosophical

711-929

929-

1031

1031-

1090

1090-1212

1212-1492

The Caliphate of CordobaMezquita

Cathedral and Mosque Constructed during the

period of the Caliphate Looks towards Mecca Horseshoe semicircular

shaped prayer room Muslim influence: walls of

flowers, fountains, architecture (arches, relief work)

Jewish influence: statues, stars

711-929

929-

1031

1031-

1090

1090-1212

1212-1492

ARCHITECTURE UNDER UMMAYADS

The Al-Hambra of Granada

Castles and houses of Al Andalus

Women Status in Muslim Rule

of Andalucia

Women in Muslim society were active in political and cultural affairs. An example of such a woman would be Subh. Subh was the wife of al-Hakam al-Mustansir, the ninth Umayyad caliph. Subh was very ambitious, but she had two major faults: she was a foreigner and a Christian. Subh is a perfect example of being well versed in the history and the power of words. She was both a poet and a linguist. Because her husband was more interested in knowledge and books, he left all the management of political affairs to Subh.

Subh

Walladah was the daughter of the caliph of Cordoba. In Cordoba, many women were often scholars. Walladah inherited enough wealth after her father’s death to guarantee her independence. She was a well-known poet as well the host of literary gatherings for both men and women. She had several love affairs, although she never married. Her surviving poetry describes her free spirit. She was also known for designing robes with embroidered sleeves.

Walladah bint Mustakfi

People of Al-Andalus(Society & adaption)

Society in Al-Andalus Mozarabic (mustarab): a Christian living in Muslim Spain, who

conserved their eclesiastical, judicial and religious organizations.

Muladí (muwaladi): a Hispanic Christian who converted to Islam during the period of Muslim rule.

Jews: allowed to practice own religion and conserve own community structure.

In Christian territory: Mudejar (mudayyan): Muslim permitted to live under Christian domination conserving own religion.

Many Christians living in Muslim Spain adapted to the culture. Some people learned Arabic, and wore the same clothes as their rulers. Some women even began wearing the veil. Some changed their names to Arabic names. The Christians who did this were known as Mozarabs. Christians had their own rulers known as counts. These counts were directly responsible to the Muslim emir of caliphate. Their taxes were collected by special agents, and they were allowed to retain their social hierarchy, as well as use Visigoth canon law instead of the Muslim law.

Adaption

After the Muslims took over al-Andalusia, the economy slowly began to patch up, because maintaining the caliph’s court and army required a good economy. Agriculture especially flourished with new foods. This was made possible by the extensive irrigation system that was copied from the Syrians. Better agriculture produced a healthier, higher population. This in return allowed the government to lower tax rates, and this encouraged urban growth and more industries.

Agriculture

Harvesting figs provided a greater diversity of fruits for consumers. Malaga (a city in Spain) was one of the most important centers for growing figs. The city is surrounded on all sides by fig trees. These figs were exported by Muslims and Christians and were sold in Baghdad as well as India and China. The fig was valued for it’s taste as well as the ability to preserve for a full year.

Figs

After Abd al-Rahman III became the first Spanish Caliph, the caliph had two purposes: one was to strengthen the Peninsular kingdom, and the other was to consolidate the commercial routes of the Mediterranean outside the country, guarantee an economic relationship with the east-Byzantium, and guarantee the supply of gold. In 972, a Spanish city located on the Mediterranean on the north coast of Africa, called Melilla was occupied, and later in the same century, the Umayyad controlled the triangle formed by Algeria, Siyima, and the Atlantic.

Trade

MUSLIM RULE IN SPAIN AND ITS IMPACT (711-1492)

Rapid growth of Muslim emp. Strongly centr. Roman state Arabs let local officials keep offices

N. Afr. Moors led by Arabs easily conquer Spain (711 CE) Widespread destruction due to:

Continued resistance by Visigoths

Semi-civ. nature of Moors

Moors rebel vs. Arab ruling class

Christian Kingdoms of Portugal, Leon, Castile, & Leon survive in North

Franks stop Moors in Fr

Ummayad Abd al-Rahman, fleeing fr. Abassids, takes over in 756

Highly centralized rule & cultural golden age centered at Cordoba (912-1008):Extensive irrigation projects, &

industries Thriving ec. Library with

400,000 booksTake title of Caliph to counter claim

by Shi’ite Fatimids in Eg.Flourishing archit.

& music

Learning revives in W. Eur.

Rising power of Chr. Kgd’s

Rising power of Chr. Kgd’s

Civil wars over throne Strife b/w Berbers & Arabs

Nasrid Granada (1250-1492) hangs on in south due to exc army, help from N. Afr., & extensive network of forts & watchtowers

Final fall of Granada to Castile in 1492 Jews expelled & Muslims under growing persecution & pressure to convert to Chr.

Unif. Of Castile & Aragon (1469)

Unif. Of Castile & Aragon (1469)

Genoa controls Gran’s trade

Less help from N. Africa

Colder climate in NW

Relig. Fervor of W. Eur Chr’s who come to Sp. to fight for

the faith

Relig. Fervor of N Afr Muslims who come to Sp.

to fight for the faith

Sp. Muslim Kgd’s try to retake lands

Sp. Christian Kgd’s advance vs. Sp.

Muslims

Cordoba Caliphate fragments into 6 main Taifa (party or faction) kingdoms that revive culture & economy

By 1250, Sp. Chr.kgd’s have taken all the Iberian Peninsula exc. Granada in S.

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