Cordova The Jewel of Cordova The Jewel of the Worldthe World

Introduction to Arab and Islamic Introduction to Arab and Islamic CivilizationCivilization

LIU LIU Abir ChaabanAbir Chaaban

This Presentation is a Summary This Presentation is a Summary fromfrom

““Cordova The Jewel of the World” in Cordova The Jewel of the World” in Philip Hitti Philip Hitti The Arabs: A Short The Arabs: A Short HistoryHistory, ( Princeton University Press: , ( Princeton University Press: 1949).1949).

The Art of the Umayyad Period in The Art of the Umayyad Period in Spain (711–1031), Spain (711–1031), http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/sumay/hd_sumay.htmhttp://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/sumay/hd_sumay.htm

The Umayyad in SpainThe Umayyad in Spain On July 19, 711, an army of Arabs and Berbers On July 19, 711, an army of Arabs and Berbers

unified under the aegis of the Islamic Umayyad unified under the aegis of the Islamic Umayyad caliphate landed on the Iberian Peninsula. Over the caliphate landed on the Iberian Peninsula. Over the next seven years, through diplomacy and warfare, next seven years, through diplomacy and warfare, they brought the entire peninsula except for they brought the entire peninsula except for Galicia and Asturias in the far north under Islamic Galicia and Asturias in the far north under Islamic control.control.

The new Islamic territories, referred to as al-The new Islamic territories, referred to as al-Andalus by Muslims, were administered by a Andalus by Muslims, were administered by a provincial government established in the name of provincial government established in the name of the Umayyad caliphate in Damascus and centered the Umayyad caliphate in Damascus and centered in Cordova. in Cordova. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/sumay/hd_sumay.htmhttp://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/sumay/hd_sumay.htm

http://www.ucalgary.ca/applied_history/tutor/islam/http://www.ucalgary.ca/applied_history/tutor/islam/caliphate/umTerritory.htmlcaliphate/umTerritory.html

CordovaCordova The Umayyad caliphate of Damascus was The Umayyad caliphate of Damascus was

overthrown by the Abbasids in 750. overthrown by the Abbasids in 750.

The last surviving member of the Umayyad The last surviving member of the Umayyad Abdul-Rahman established himself as Emir Abd Abdul-Rahman established himself as Emir Abd al-Rahman I and thus initiating the Umayyad al-Rahman I and thus initiating the Umayyad emirate in Spain(756–929). emirate in Spain(756–929).

Abd al-Rahman I (r. 756–88) made Cirdova his Abd al-Rahman I (r. 756–88) made Cirdova his capital. He unified al-Andalus under his rule with capital. He unified al-Andalus under his rule with a firm handnestablishing diplomatic ties with the a firm handnestablishing diplomatic ties with the northern Christian kingdoms, North Africa, and northern Christian kingdoms, North Africa, and the Byzantine empire and maintaining cultural the Byzantine empire and maintaining cultural contact with the Abbasids in Baghdad. contact with the Abbasids in Baghdad.

CordovaCordova

The Umayyads reclaimed their right to the The Umayyads reclaimed their right to the caliphate during the reign of Abd al-caliphate during the reign of Abd al-Rahman III (r. 912–61), who became the Rahman III (r. 912–61), who became the first Spanish Umayyad to declare himself first Spanish Umayyad to declare himself caliph (929). caliph (929).

Under the Umayyad caliphate (929–1031), Under the Umayyad caliphate (929–1031), Cordova became the greatest intellectual Cordova became the greatest intellectual center of Europe, with celebrated libraries center of Europe, with celebrated libraries and schools. and schools.

CordovaCordova Two years before his death in 788 Abd Al Rahman founded the Two years before his death in 788 Abd Al Rahman founded the

Great Mosque of Cordova as a rival to the two sanctuaries of Islam Great Mosque of Cordova as a rival to the two sanctuaries of Islam Jerusalem and Mecca. Jerusalem and Mecca.

The Mosque was transferred into a Christian Cathedral in 1236, The Mosque was transferred into a Christian Cathedral in 1236, and survived until the present day under the popular name “ La and survived until the present day under the popular name “ La Mezquita.”Mezquita.”

The Umayyads in Spain like their counterpart the Abbasids The Umayyads in Spain like their counterpart the Abbasids administered a multicultural society. administered a multicultural society.

Abdul Rahman strove to fashion into one nation Arabians, Syrians, Abdul Rahman strove to fashion into one nation Arabians, Syrians, Berbers, Numidians, Hispano Arabs and Goths.Berbers, Numidians, Hispano Arabs and Goths.

He initiated the intellectual movement which made Islamic Spain He initiated the intellectual movement which made Islamic Spain from the ninth to the eleventh centuries one of the two centers of from the ninth to the eleventh centuries one of the two centers of the world culture, Cordova and Baghdad.the world culture, Cordova and Baghdad.

CordovaCordova The government maintained a regular postal service. It modeled its The government maintained a regular postal service. It modeled its

coinage on Eastern patterns, with the dinar as the gold unit and the coinage on Eastern patterns, with the dinar as the gold unit and the dirhams as the silver unit.dirhams as the silver unit.

Arab money was in use in the Christian kingdoms of the north, Arab money was in use in the Christian kingdoms of the north, which for four hundred years had no coinage except Arabic or which for four hundred years had no coinage except Arabic or French.French.

The real glory however lies in the scholarship of the Arabs. Al The real glory however lies in the scholarship of the Arabs. Al Hakam, Abdul Rahman successor was a scholar and patronised Hakam, Abdul Rahman successor was a scholar and patronised learning. He granted magnificent bounties to scholars and learning. He granted magnificent bounties to scholars and established twenty seven free schools in the capital.established twenty seven free schools in the capital.

Under Al Hakam the University of Cordova founded in the principal Under Al Hakam the University of Cordova founded in the principal mosque by Abdul Rahman III, rose to a place of preeminence mosque by Abdul Rahman III, rose to a place of preeminence among the educational institutions of the world. It precede both al-among the educational institutions of the world. It precede both al-Azhar of Cairo and the Nizamiyah of Baghdad and attracted Azhar of Cairo and the Nizamiyah of Baghdad and attracted students, Christians and Muslims, not only from Spain but from students, Christians and Muslims, not only from Spain but from other parts of Europe, Africa and Asia.other parts of Europe, Africa and Asia.

In adition to the University the Mosque housed a library. Al Hakam In adition to the University the Mosque housed a library. Al Hakam was abibliophile, his agents ransacked the bookshops of Alexandria, was abibliophile, his agents ransacked the bookshops of Alexandria, Damascus and Baghdad, with a view to buying or copying Damascus and Baghdad, with a view to buying or copying manuscripts. It is said that he gathered 400,000 books filling forty manuscripts. It is said that he gathered 400,000 books filling forty four volumes of library catalogues. Twenty sheets were devoted to four volumes of library catalogues. Twenty sheets were devoted to political works. political works.

CordovaCordova Abdul Rahman’s Court was one of the most Abdul Rahman’s Court was one of the most

glamorous in all Europe. Its seat was Cordova, glamorous in all Europe. Its seat was Cordova, with half a million inhabitants, seven hundred with half a million inhabitants, seven hundred mosques and three public baths.mosques and three public baths.

The Royal Palace has four hundred rooms and The Royal Palace has four hundred rooms and apartments housing of slaves and guards. apartments housing of slaves and guards. Abdul Rahman started its construction in 936. Abdul Rahman started its construction in 936. He named his palace Al-Zahra after his He named his palace Al-Zahra after his concubine’s name meaning “she with the concubine’s name meaning “she with the bright face”.bright face”.

In al-Zahra the Chaliph surrounded himself In al-Zahra the Chaliph surrounded himself with bodyguards of “Slavs” with bodyguards of “Slavs”

The Ummayads in CordovaThe Ummayads in Cordova From Spain the Art of tanning and embossing From Spain the Art of tanning and embossing

leather was carried to Morocco and from these leather was carried to Morocco and from these two lands it was brought to France and England. two lands it was brought to France and England.

The raising of silk worms originally a monopoly of The raising of silk worms originally a monopoly of the Chinese, was introduced by Muslims into the Chinese, was introduced by Muslims into Spain.Spain.

The Spanish Arabs introduced agricultural The Spanish Arabs introduced agricultural methods practiced in Western Asia ( Lebanon, methods practiced in Western Asia ( Lebanon, Syria, Palestine). They dug canals, cultivated Syria, Palestine). They dug canals, cultivated grapes and introduced among other plants and grapes and introduced among other plants and fruits, rice, apricots, peaches, pomegranates, fruits, rice, apricots, peaches, pomegranates, oranges, sugar cane, cotton and saffron.oranges, sugar cane, cotton and saffron.

The Arts of Cordova The Arts of Cordova Hispano-Umayyad art reached its apogee during Hispano-Umayyad art reached its apogee during

the lengthy reign of Abd al-Rahman III and his son the lengthy reign of Abd al-Rahman III and his son al-Hakam II (r. 961–76) and the regency of the al-Hakam II (r. 961–76) and the regency of the powerful Amirids, particularly al-Mansur (978–powerful Amirids, particularly al-Mansur (978–1002).1002).

Despite their open rejection of Abbasid political Despite their open rejection of Abbasid political authority, the Umayyads of Cordova emulated the authority, the Umayyads of Cordova emulated the opulent palatial arts of the centers of Abbasid opulent palatial arts of the centers of Abbasid power, Baghdad and Samarra’. power, Baghdad and Samarra’.

The Ummayads Arts in Cordova was also influence The Ummayads Arts in Cordova was also influence by the Fatimid rulers, who had established an by the Fatimid rulers, who had established an independent Shi’a caliphate in North Africa in 909 independent Shi’a caliphate in North Africa in 909 and occupied Egypt in 969. and occupied Egypt in 969.

The Arts of CordovaThe Arts of Cordova

Art patronage as a sign of kingship and Art patronage as a sign of kingship and authority is a theme that emerged from these authority is a theme that emerged from these creative appropriations from abroad and the creative appropriations from abroad and the past. past.

Luxurious objects such as boxes of carved Luxurious objects such as boxes of carved ivory and gilt silver, bronze animal statuary, ivory and gilt silver, bronze animal statuary, and richly figured silks were commissioned and richly figured silks were commissioned for palaces decorated with ornate marble for palaces decorated with ornate marble capitals, stucco wall panels, and marble capitals, stucco wall panels, and marble fountains. fountains.