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Al-Andalus Al-Andalus 711 - 1492711 - 1492

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The Arab Invasion and Cultural LegacyThe Arab Invasion and Cultural Legacy

- Decisive battle: Guadalete in 711 AD – crossed - Decisive battle: Guadalete in 711 AD – crossed the straits and into Spain, defeated the Visigoth the straits and into Spain, defeated the Visigoth army lead by King Roderic. Occupied Cordoba and army lead by King Roderic. Occupied Cordoba and Toledo. Toledo.

-After Guadalete, Muslims would conquer the -After Guadalete, Muslims would conquer the Peninsula in less than 10 years and would stay in Peninsula in less than 10 years and would stay in Spain until 1492Spain until 1492

-Spain was first ruled as part of the Emirate of -Spain was first ruled as part of the Emirate of Damascus but in 756 it became independent. This Damascus but in 756 it became independent. This was part of a spectacular expansion of Islam after was part of a spectacular expansion of Islam after Mohammed died in 632, which extended from Mohammed died in 632, which extended from Spain until the Punjab, under the authority of the Spain until the Punjab, under the authority of the Umayyad caliph in Damascus. Umayyad caliph in Damascus.

CaliphCaliph: a spiritual leader of Islam, claiming succession from : a spiritual leader of Islam, claiming succession from Muhammad.Muhammad.

CaliphateCaliphate: The office or jurisdiction of a caliph : The office or jurisdiction of a caliph

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The Expansion of IslamThe Expansion of Islam

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Caliphate – from Damascus to Caliphate – from Damascus to BaghdadBaghdad

► Since 661 the Umayyad dynasty had dominated the Since 661 the Umayyad dynasty had dominated the caliphate in Damascus. caliphate in Damascus.

► In 750 overthrown by a rival dynasty, the Abbasids, In 750 overthrown by a rival dynasty, the Abbasids, and move the capital from Damascus to Baghdad in and move the capital from Damascus to Baghdad in 762. 762.

► The Abbasids kill most of Umayyad dynasty, except The Abbasids kill most of Umayyad dynasty, except the grandson of the caliph – Abd al-Rahman I. the grandson of the caliph – Abd al-Rahman I.

► He escaped, went to Al Andalus in 755. Declares He escaped, went to Al Andalus in 755. Declares himself Emir of Al Andalus in 756. himself Emir of Al Andalus in 756.

► Extends his control over most of the south and Extends his control over most of the south and central part of Spain.central part of Spain.

► Al Andalus is an independent Emirate 756-929 Al Andalus is an independent Emirate 756-929

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Abd ar Rahman III (912-961)Abd ar Rahman III (912-961)► Culturally, this is a golden period. Great Mosque Culturally, this is a golden period. Great Mosque

of Cordoba extended. Becomes center of of Cordoba extended. Becomes center of learning (70 libraries- largest had 600,000 books)learning (70 libraries- largest had 600,000 books) Science, geography, history, and philosophy.Science, geography, history, and philosophy. Translate Greek scientific books into Arabic.Translate Greek scientific books into Arabic.

► Combined Roman technology with Arabic Combined Roman technology with Arabic technology, creating irrigation options previously technology, creating irrigation options previously unavailable. unavailable.

► Started to grow citrus, bananas, artichokes, Started to grow citrus, bananas, artichokes, cotton, rice, wheat and sugar-cane. In the cotton, rice, wheat and sugar-cane. In the highland areas they grew olives, vines, figs, highland areas they grew olives, vines, figs, population rises etc.population rises etc.

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Cultural ContributionsCultural Contributions

►PeoplePeople Ziryab- “polymath” Ziryab- “polymath” Al-Mutamid- Al-Mutamid-

poet/kingpoet/king Al-Idrisi- geographerAl-Idrisi- geographer Averroes- Averroes-

philosopher, father philosopher, father of secular thought of secular thought (gov. and religion (gov. and religion should be seperateshould be seperate

Maimonides- Jewish Maimonides- Jewish philosopherphilosopher

►Daily Life in Daily Life in AndaluciaAndalucia Civilian architectureCivilian architecture GastronomyGastronomy LANGUAGELANGUAGE

►4,000 words in 4,000 words in Spanish have Arabic Spanish have Arabic origenorigen

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Ziryab: Man/MythZiryab: Man/Myth► Polymath: person who is Polymath: person who is

good at many thingsgood at many things► Poet, musician, singer, Poet, musician, singer,

cosmetologist, fashion cosmetologist, fashion designer, astronomer, designer, astronomer, botanist, geographerbotanist, geographer

► Music- Lute → Spanish Music- Lute → Spanish guitarguitar

► New Year celebrationsNew Year celebrations► 3 course meals, glassware3 course meals, glassware► Toothpaste, deodorant, Toothpaste, deodorant,

shaving for menshaving for men

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The "Mezquita de Cordoba" or Mosque of Cordoba The "Mezquita de Cordoba" or Mosque of Cordoba was begun in 784 by Abd al-Rahman I when he was begun in 784 by Abd al-Rahman I when he bought the Visigoth basilica of San Vicente, tore it bought the Visigoth basilica of San Vicente, tore it down, and built the mosque.down, and built the mosque.

Mezquita (Mosque)Mezquita (Mosque)

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Mezquita (Mosque)Mezquita (Mosque)► Architecture flourished during Architecture flourished during

this periodthis period► Painting and sculpture used Painting and sculpture used

mostly only as decoration for mostly only as decoration for the amazing buildings.the amazing buildings.

► Built mostly of inexpensive Built mostly of inexpensive materials (brick, plaster, tile)materials (brick, plaster, tile)

► Extensive decoration (nearly Extensive decoration (nearly every surface) gave an every surface) gave an appearance of wealth and appearance of wealth and abundanceabundance

► Islam prohibits the Islam prohibits the representation of animals. representation of animals. Therefore we see many Therefore we see many geometric and botanic geometric and botanic designs.designs.

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►Unitary Political authority in the Unitary Political authority in the caliphate begins to break up in the 11caliphate begins to break up in the 11thth century. After 2 decades of civil war, century. After 2 decades of civil war, the last caliph is deposed in 1031.the last caliph is deposed in 1031.

►The caliphate is replaced by a number The caliphate is replaced by a number of successor states, known as of successor states, known as taifataifa states. This comes from ‘faction’ or states. This comes from ‘faction’ or ‘party’ in Arabic.‘party’ in Arabic.

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►Almoravids – fundamentalist Islamic Almoravids – fundamentalist Islamic sect, from (now) Morocco saw that sect, from (now) Morocco saw that Islamic law was scandalously being Islamic law was scandalously being flouted (11flouted (11thth century), and invade in century), and invade in 1086.1086.

►Al Andalus – reunited under militant, Al Andalus – reunited under militant, intolerant leadership.intolerant leadership.

►Christians also become more militant – Christians also become more militant – with the religious orders which vowed with the religious orders which vowed to take back ‘Christian’ land. to take back ‘Christian’ land. ReconquistaReconquista starts in earnest in 12 starts in earnest in 12thth century.century.

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The Nasrid dynastyThe Nasrid dynasty

The last Muslim dynasty in Spain. The Nasrid The last Muslim dynasty in Spain. The Nasrid dynasty rose to power after the defeat of the dynasty rose to power after the defeat of the Almohad dynasty in 1212 at the Battle of Las Navas Almohad dynasty in 1212 at the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa (against an alliance of Christian de Tolosa (against an alliance of Christian kingdoms).kingdoms).

Twenty different kings ruled Granada from the Twenty different kings ruled Granada from the founding of the dynasty in 1238 by Muhammed I founding of the dynasty in 1238 by Muhammed I ibn Nasr until January 2, 1492, when Sultan Boabdil ibn Nasr until January 2, 1492, when Sultan Boabdil surrendered to the Christian Spanish kingdom. surrendered to the Christian Spanish kingdom. Today, the most visible evidence of the Nasrids is Today, the most visible evidence of the Nasrids is the Alhambra palace complex built under their rule.the Alhambra palace complex built under their rule.

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AlhambraAlhambra

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AlhambraAlhambra► Important to create cool and Important to create cool and

comfortable spaces, comfortable spaces, play of play of light and shadelight and shade, and the , and the use of use of waterwater (pools, (pools, fountains, waterfalls)fountains, waterfalls)

► Use of Use of calligraphycalligraphy as as decoration using phrases decoration using phrases from the Koran and poems.from the Koran and poems.

► Roof usually flat and made of Roof usually flat and made of wood, sometimes used wood, sometimes used copulascopulas instead instead

► Use of pillars, columns, and Use of pillars, columns, and arches.arches. Horseshoe (Moorish) Horseshoe (Moorish)

archarch Polylobate archPolylobate arch

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Christian Territory expands - Christian Territory expands - 12001200

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►Al-Andalus Al-Andalus ceased to exist ceased to exist after the defeat after the defeat at the hands of at the hands of Ferdinand and Ferdinand and Isabella in 1492.Isabella in 1492.

But there are But there are legacies still legacies still alive today.alive today.