In 711, Muslim forces invaded and conquered most of the Iberian Peninsula except a small part of northern Spain, establishing Al-Andalus. For over 700 years, Muslims and Christians fought for control of the region. By the end of the Middle Ages, Christian forces had grown stronger and began to reconquer the territory. Under Abd al-Rahman III in 756, the Umayyad dynasty established the Caliphate of Córdoba, a Muslim kingdom ruled by a caliph. Society in Al-Andalus was divided into Muslims, Christians, and Jews, with people living in walled towns and cities containing markets, mosques, and fortified palaces.

1. MIDDLE AGES IN SPAIN:
AL-ANDALUS
By Andrés Arévalo

2. GENERAL BACKGROUND:
THE MUSLIM INVASION

3. Middle Ages started with the Fall of
the Roman Empire. This happened
because people from North
Europe conquered that Empire.

4. After the Fall of the Roman
Empire, the Visigoths came to
Spain. The Visigoths were
christians.

5. In 711, the Muslims defeated
the Visigoths and conquered
most Iberian Peninsula,
except one small territory in
North Spain.

6. MUSLIM PART
CHRISTIAN PART

7. The Visigoths and the
Muslims fought for
more than 700 years.

8. At the beginning, the Muslims were
stronger and they defeated the Christians.
But at the end of Middle Ages, the
Christians were stronger and started to re-
conquer Iberian Peninsula.

9. In 711, the Muslims defeated the Christians
in Battle of Guadalete. Then, they called
Iberian Peninsula Al-Andalus.

10. In 756, Abd al-Rahman III
established the Caliphate of
Córdoba.
Caliphate is a Muslim kingdom.
The king was called caliph.

11. ECONOMY AND
SOCIETY

12. QUESTIONS:
What was society divided into?
Where did people in Al-Andalus live?
What is a medina?
What is a zoco?
What is a mosque?
What is an alcázar?
What is an alcazaba?

13. Society was divided into three
groups:
Muslims
Christians
Jews

14. People lived in towns and
cities surrounded by
walls.

16. MEDINA: It was the place
where craftspeople lived.

17. ZOCO: It was the market place, where
trade took place and people sold and
bought things.

18. MOSQUE: It was the place
where people prayed.

19. BLUE MOSQUE IN ISTANBUL

20. ALCÁZAR: It was a fortified
place that was next to the
alcazaba.

21. NEW WORDS:
Visigoths: Visigodos
Defeat: Derrotar,
vencer
Conquer: Conquistar
Fight/ fought: Luchar
Caliphate: Califato
Caliph: Califa
Jews: Judíos
Craftspeople:
Artesanos
Mosque: Mezquita