Islam and Al-

Andalus

• Islam is one the biggest religions in the world. It’s a

monotheist religion that believes in one god. It was first

preached by the Prophet Muhammad in Arabia, in the early

7th century, around the cities of Mecca and Yathrib (present-

day Medina or Madinat An Nabi = city of the Prophet).

• Its principles rapidly spread throughout the north of Africa,

Asia and parts of Europe.

• Today Islam is the second biggest religion in the world with

1570 million followers.

• The Muslims arrived on the Iberian peninsula in 711. They

defeated the Visigoth kingdom and created the Islamic state,

al-Andalus.

• Muslims stayed on the Peninsula until 1492. We can see

Muslim influences in our culture, art, customs and language.

Islam of the Iberian Peninsula: al-

Andalus

THE CONQUEST

• In 711 Tarik, lieutenant of Musa (North Africa governor) crossed the

Strait of Gibraltar with Arab and Berber troops.

• They wanted to plunder the area, but the victory over the King

Roderick (Rodrigo) at the Battle of Guadalete (711) encourage

them to advance.

• In 4 years, they conquered most of the Peninsula; following the

battle of Covadonga (722), only the North remained Christian

(Cantabria and Asturias).

• Muslims reached France (Battle of Poitiers, 732), but were defeated

by Charles Martel.

THE DEPENDENT EMIRATE OF DAMASCUS

• After the conquest, al-Andalus became an emirate: province

depending on the Umayyad caliphate of Damascus. The capital was

Cordoba.

THE INDEPENDENT EMIRATE

• In 756, Abd al-Rahman I, an Umayyad prince came to al-Andalus

escaping from the Abbasids of Baghdad. He proclaimed himself

independent emir, but recognised the religious authority of

Baghdad.

• During this period, Christians conquered Zamora, and Franks

Gerona and Barcelona (Hispanic March).

THE CALIPHATE OF CORDOBA

• In 929, Abd al-Rahman III proclaimed himself caliph, declaring the

religious independence of al-Andalus.

• He ended internal rebellions and fought against the Christians in the

north. It was a golden age, and Cordoba was the most prosperous

city in the west.

• Under Al-Haken II and Hixen II, the situation was the same. Hixem

II’s vizier, Almanzor, plundered Barcelona and Santiago. With his

death, the caliphate was in crisis.

THE TAIFAS

• In 1031, the Caliphate of Cordoba was divided into 28 different taifas or kingdoms. Christians made them payingtaxes (parias). Christians conquered Toledo in 1085 (Alphonse VI).

ALMORAVIDS AND ALMOHADS.

• Almoravid were nomadic Berbers who had an empire in North Africa (Marrakech was its capital). They came to al-Andalusand beated the Christians in the battle of Sagrajas.

• Almohads replaced Almoravids, and incorporated al-Andalusto their empire. But in 1212 they were defeated at the battleof Las Navas de Tolosa. Christian penetrated into the valleyof Guadalquivir. Al-Andalus was reduced to a small kingdom(Granada).

THE NASRID KINGDOM OF GRANADA

• The Muslim Kingdom of Granada, governed by the Nasrid dinasty,

survied in the Peninsula until 1492, due to 2 circumstances:

– The support of the Muslims from North Africa.

– They paid tributes to the Castillian kings.

The economy and society in al-

Andalus

ECONOMY

• The city was the centre of the economic activity(market=souqs=zoco).

• Agriculture was the mainactivity. They developedirrigation, using wells, waterwheels and ditches. Introduced new crops (rice, citrus fruits, hemp).

• Artisans also produces textiles, leather and glass.

• Trade was very important in al-Andalus.

The economy and society in al-

Andalus

Islamic art and culture

ISLAMIC CULTURE

• Islamic culture made important advances and inventions.

Islamic Art

ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN

• Islam forbids the presentation of

human and animal forms, so

their art is based on architecture

and design.

• Buildings were made with poor-

quality construction materiales

(brick, wood, plaster).

• They used columns and pillars

to support horseshoe arches

and vaulted roofs.

• The usually decorated the buildings with vegetables (arabesque),

geometric figures (tracery) and inscriptions from the Koran

(epigraphy).

• The Mosque is the most important building (based on Muhammad’s

house in Medina):

– Courtyard, where we find a fountain, and a minaret or tower.

– The hall of prayer, covered with arches and columns. The kiblah

faces to the Mecca and holds the mihrab.

– Damascus, Kairouan, Samarra, Jerusalem, Córdoba.

Mosque of Damascus

Mosque of Jerusalem

Mosque of Samarra

Mosque of Kairouan

Mosque of Córdoba

Mosque of Córdoba - Mihrab

Mosque of Córdoba – Prayer

room

Old minaret of

Seville’s Mosque

(Giralda tower)

• Palaces where the caliph lived. It had beautiful gardens with

fountains.

– Alhambra of Granada

Alhambra

Madinat Al-Zahra

Madinat Al-Zahra