1) Cordova became the capital of the Umayyad Emirate in Spain after the last Umayyad established rule there in 756. 2) Under the Umayyads, Cordova grew into a major intellectual center of Europe with celebrated libraries and schools. The Great Mosque of Cordova, built in 788, became a prominent place of learning. 3) At its peak under Caliph Abd al-Rahman III and his son al-Hakam II from the 10th century, Cordova contained half a million inhabitants and was one of the most wealthy and cultured cities in the world, with opulent palaces, art, and patronage of learning that drew students from across

1. Cordova The Jewel of the World Introduction to Arab and Islamic Civilization LIU Abir Chaaban

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