The document provides an overview of the history and culture of Al-Andalus. It summarizes that: The Muslim conquest of the Iberian Peninsula began in 711 CE and within a few years they had occupied nearly the entire region, establishing the independent Emirate of Cordoba by 756 CE. This evolved into the powerful Caliphate of Cordoba from 929-1031 CE, which saw a golden age of culture and learning. However, internal conflicts later caused the fragmentation of Al-Andalus into competing taifa states by 1031 CE, weakening the region as Christian kingdoms grew in strength. The last remnants of Muslim rule in Iberia ended with the fall of Granada

1. UNIT 5
AL-ANDALUS

2. INDEX
1) THE EARLY HISTORY OF AL-ANDALUS.
a) The conquest of the Iberian Peninsula.
b) The Independent Emirate of Córdoba (756-
929).
c) The Caluphate of Córdoba (929-1031)
2) THE FRAMENTATION OF AL-ANDALUS.
a) The taifa states (1031-1086).
b) The Almoravids and the Almohads (1086-
1212)
c) The Nasrid Kingdom of Granada (ended in
1492)
3) LIFE IN AL-ANDALUS.
a) A diverse society.
b) Life in cities.
c) The economy
4) ANDALUSÍ CULTURE AND ART
a) Architecture
b) Cultural achievements.

3. 1. THE EARLY HISTORY OF AL-ANDALUS.
A)The conquest of the Iberian Peninsula
By the early 8th century, the Muslims had expanded beyond their original territory on the Arabian
Peninsula, and controlled most of the North Africa:

4. The Muslim conquest of
the Iberian Peninsula
was a continuation of
Islamic expansion across
the Mediterranean
region.
But it was also possible
thanks to the civil war
between rival groups of
the Visigoth nobility
(Witizianos) that was
taken place on the
Peninsula.

5. In 711, one faction requested help from Musa, a Muslim ruler in North Africa. They
crossed over to the Iberian Peninsula, which they rapidly conquered:
The Muslims defeated
the Visigoth King
Rodrigo (Don
Rodrigo) in the Battle
of Guadalete.

6. Musa and his leading
general Tariq did not hand
power over to their Visigoth
allies. Instead, in just a few
years they occupied nearly
all the Iberian Peninsula.

7. The Muslims never fully
conquered the mountainous
regions of the north-west,
which had a very different
climate from the
Mediterranean environment
that the Muslims preferred.

8. The Muslims called their new territory Al-Andalus, and made Córdoba its capital.
Initially, the emirate of Al-Andalus was dependent of the Umayyad caliphate of
Damascus.
Mosque of
Córdoba

9. THE INDEPENDENT EMIRATE
OF CÓRDOBA
(756-929)
In the mid-8th
century, most
members of the
ruling Umayyad
family in Damascus
were killed when the
new Abbasid
dynasty took power.
An Umayyad
prince called
Abd al-
Rahman
escaped to
the Iberian
Peninsula.
As Abd al-
Rahman I,
he founded
the
independent
Emirate of
Córdoba in
756.
The emir of
Córdoba was
independent, but
he accepted the
religious
supremacy of
the caliph.
Local leaders
still held
considerable
power, so there
were many
conflicts in the
early period of
Al-Andalus.

10. THE CALIPHATE OF CÓRDOBA
929-1031
A period of exceptional achievement in Al-
Andalus.
In 929 Abd al-Rahman
III became caliph (the
supreme political and
religious authority).
He ruled through a
chief minister (hajib),
ministers (viziers) and
provincial governors
(walis).
The Caliphate of
Córdoba was one of the
world's great states in
the 10th century.

11. Abd al-Rahman III strengthened his authority by
repressing internal revolts and resisting the Christian
kingdoms in the north of the Iberian Peninsula.
The city of Córdoba was one of the most populous in
the world, and became a giant marketplace for
products all over the world.
Córdoba was a great cultural centre, home to many
philosophers, astronomers, doctors, musicians and
poets.

12. THE CALIPHATE OF CÓRDOBA
929-1031
The role of the caliph weakened greatly from
the late 10th century.
Hisham II was eleven years old when he
became caliph in 976. A general called Al-
Mansur and Subh (Hisham’s mother)
became the real rulers of Al-Andalus.
Al-Mansur conducted raids, or razzias, on
Christian territories in the north.
Many provincial governors tried to establish
full authority in their own regions.
Internal conflicts were continual after Al-
Mansur´s death in 1002 until the end of the
caliphate in 1031.
Subh was born in the Christian
kingdoms and was captured as a
child.
He received an impressive
education in Al-Andalus and his
great intelligence did the rest.
After the death of her husband, the
caliph, she ruled Al-Andalus with
Almanzor.
She was regent of her son Hisham
II, and took care of many of the
government's tasks for decades.
However, she does not appear in
your textbook.

14. 2. THE FRAGMENTATION OF AL-ANDALUS.
THE TAIFA
STATES
FIRST TAIFAS
(1031-1086)
After the collapse of the Caliphate of Córdoba in 1031, there
was significant ethnic and political division in Andalusi
society. Al-Andalus split into small independent Muslim
states called taifas.
There were many conflicts between the taifas. The larger
states, like Seville, Toledo, Badajoz and Zaragoza fought with
each other, and also tried to take control of the smaller taifas.
The Christian kingdoms in the north took advantage of the
lack of unity of Al-Andalus. They attacked the taifas and
forced their rulers to pay parias, or tribute.

15. From the 11th century, Al-
Andalus was continually on
the defensive as a result of
the political fragmentation of
the Muslims states and the
rise of the Christian
kingdoms.
Al-Andalus received military
assistance from Berber
Muslims empires in North
Africa, where a much stricter
version of Islam was
practised:
They arrived to the Iberian
Peninsula in 1086 and took
over most of the taifa states.
They won some victories
against the Christian
kingdoms, but they were
unable to prevent Christian
advances.
The Almoravids did not
maintain their domination of
Al-Andalus for very long, and
it fragmented once again into
many small taifa states in
1140s.
Almoravids

16. From the 11th century, Al-
Andalus was continually on
the defensive as a result of
the political fragmentation of
the Muslims states and the
rise of the Christian
kingdoms.
Al-Andalus received military
assistance from Berber
Muslims empires in North
Africa, where a much stricter
version of Islam was
practised:
The Almohads were the
successors of the Almoravids
in North Africa.
They crossed over in 1147
and conquered the taifa states
as well as resisting the
Christian kingdoms.
Despite Almohad resistance,
the Christian kingdoms
continued to expand in the
12th and 13th centuries.
Almohads

17.  In the early 13th century, the Christians created a large army, in which several kingdoms
participated: the forces of Alfonso VIII, king of Castilla, were joined by the armies of Sancho
VII of Navarra, Pedro II of Aragon and Alfonso II of Portugal.
 They achieved a great victory over the Almohads in the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa
(1212).
 Almohad authority collapsed, and the Christian kingdoms conquered all of the Iberian
Peninsula by the mid-13th century, except for Granada. It was the end of the Almohads in
the Iberian Peninsula.
Navas de Tolosa battle. Van Halen.
19th century.

18. 2. THE FRAGMENTATION OF AL-ANDALUS

19. THE NASRID KINGDOM OF GRANADA
It was the last surviving Muslim territory on south-west of the Iberian
Peninsula.
It was never militarily strong, but it was prosperous thanks to trade and
agriculture.
The monarchs of Castile allowed Granada to survive as an independent state
because it paid them tributes and provided military assistance.
The Nasrid rulers used their wealth to create the Alhambra, an extraordinary
complex of palaces, which was built between 14th and 15th century.
The kingdom was weakened by internal conflicts between noble families and
the Nasrid dynasty. Finally, it was “conquered” by the Catholic Monarchs in
1492.

22. 3. LIFE IN AL-ANDALUS
The conquerors and their descendants became
the most powerful groups in Andalusi society.
ARABS BERBERS
A DIVERSE SOCIETY

23. ARABS
● They came from the
Middle East.
● They were the land-
owning aristocracy.
● They held political
power.
A DIVERSE SOCIETY

24. BERBERS
● They came from
North Africa.
● They also helped to
conquer the Iberian
Peninsula.
● However, they
received less land
and wealth than the
Arabs.
● Sometimes, they
rebelled against the
authority.
A DIVERSE SOCIETY

25. A DIVERSE
SOCIETY
Initially, the Muslims
were only a very small
minority of the
population.
In the Iberian
Peninsula, with
Al-Andalus and
the expansion
of the Christian
kingdoms, we
have different
groups in the
society.

26. Over time, many Christians (called Muladis)
converted to Islam and adopted Muslim
customs. They were living in Al-Andalus.
Christian and Jews were allowed to practice
their religion as long as they paid taxes:
The Mozarabs were Christians who lived in Al-
Andalus. They did not convert to Islam. As the
Christian kingdoms expanded, some Mozarabs
left Al-Andalus to live in the Christian north.
The Jews were merchants, artisans and
scholars. They lived in separate
neighbourhoods called Jewish quarters.
A DIVERSE
SOCIETY
GLOSSARY
● Muladis: Muladíes.
● Mozarabs: Mozárabes.
● Jews: Judíos.

29. 3. LIFE IN AL-ANDALUS: LIFE IN CITIES
The streets of Al-
Andalus were
totally irregular
and really narrow.

30. The exterior of a muslim house in Al-Andalus.
A wealthy family could liver here.
The interior of a muslim house in Al-Andalus.
3. LIFE IN AL-ANDALUS: LIFE IN CITIES

31. LIFE IN CITIES.
In the 10th century, Córdoba
was the most important city
in Al-Andalus, and it was the
greatest city west of
Constantinople.
There were also other
important cities in al-Andalus
like Seville, Toledo,
Valencia and Murcia.

32. LIFE IN CITIES.
 Medina: a walled centre
called a medina.
○ the alcázar (fortress)
○ the main mosque
○ souks (markets)

33. LIFE IN CITIES.
 Water was a key resource. Large cities had gardens
irrigated by canals, public fountains with drinking water and
sewage systems (sistema alcantarillado).
 Hammams (public baths) were separate for men and
women. Baths were meeting places, where people
discussed the news and events of the day.

34. THE ECONOMY
Al-Andalus had a
prosperous economy,
based on:
Agriculture
Craftwork
Trade

35. Agriculture
Irrigation techniques
and new crops (cotton,
rice, aubergines and
artichokes).
Most of the
population
work on
agriculture. Grains,
grapes,
olives and
fruit trees.
Farmers sold
their products
in the souks of
nearby cities.

36. Craftwork
Ceramics,
leather, precious
metals and silk.
Craftsmen with a particular
speciality lived and worked in
the same area, so there were
neighbourhoods of leather
workers, weavers and potters.
Workshops were
small and had
their own shops.

37. Trade
Al-Andalus
was a busy
trade centre.
It exported
crafts and
imported gold
and slaves.
There were two
coins: the gold
dinar and the
silver dirham.
Alhóndigas provided
storerooms for products and
accommodation for merchants.

38. 4. ANDALUSÍ CULTURE AND ART.
 Buildings: Mosques, public baths, castles and palaces.
 Materials: Bricks covered with abundant decoration.
 Decoration: Plant motifs, geometric patterns and inscriptions of poems and verses of
Quran. Latticework and stained glass windows. Water as decoration. Islam prohibited the
representation of people and animals, so figures only appeared exceptionally.
 Architectural elements: Horseshoe, pointed horseshoe and multifoil arches supported by
columns and pillars.
 Roofs were flat and made of wood. Mosques had decorated domes.
ARCHITECTURE

39. THE MOSQUEThe Mosque was:
a place of prayer
used as school
the place were
where important
news or political
appointments
were announced.
All mosques:
 are cube-
shapped, like the
Kaaba.
share the same
structure, which
was inpired by
Muhammad’s

40. HORSESHOE ARCH
Salón Rico. Medina Azahara. Córdoba.
Mihrab. Mezquita de Córdoba.

41. POINTED HORSESHOE ARCH. MALAHÁ (GRANADA)

42. MULTIFOIL ARCH. (ARCO
POLILOBULADO).
ALJAFERÍA. ZARAGOZA.

43. DECORATION
Inscription of verses from
the Quran with plant motifs
and geometric patterns.
Decoration. Alhambra. Granada.

44. LATTICEWORK (CELOSÍA)
Latticework consits on strips of wood or other materials forming intricate patterns and
also they used stained glass window created interesting effects of light and shadow.

45. WOOD ROOF. CÓRDOBA.

46. WATER WAS USED IN NUMEROUS FOUNTAINS AND POOLS, AND
CREATED A COOL AND PLEASANT ATMOSPHERE.
Alhambra gardens

47. THE IMPORTANCE OF WATER
La
Alhambra
(Granada)

48. ANDALUSI CULTURE AND ART
Caliphate of Córdoba.
Great Mosque of Córdoba. VIII. (780) Palace of Medina Azahara. X. (936). Ordered
by Abd-al Rahman III.

49. ANDALUSI CULTURE AND ART
Taifa architecture
Zaragoza’s taifa. Aljafería (Zaragoza). XI.
Ordered by al-Muqtadir.

50. ANDALUSI CULTURE AND ART
TAIFA ARCHITECTURE
Castillo Monteagudo.
Murcia. XI. Ordered by
Ibn Mardanis.

51. ANDALUSI CULTURE AND ART
Almohad architecture
The Giralda.
Seville. XII.

52. ANDALUSI CULTURE AND ART
Nasrid architecture
Alhambra. XIV. Generalife. XIII-XIV.

53. Nasrid architecture:
THE ALHAMBRA AND GENERALIFE (GRANADA)
 The Alhambra complex stands high above the city of
Granda, and it is surrounded by lines os fortified walls.
 It took centuries to build, and it was later modified by
Christian kings.
 The Alhambra is a fortress and a royal palace. There are
public and private areas, wich are arranged around
courtyards. The most famous is the Court of the Lions
(Patio de los Leones).
 The Generalife is a royal summer palace near the
Alhambra. It is also arranged around courtyards, and it is
surrounded by beautiful gardens.

54. Patio de los leones
Patio de la acequia. Generalife. Granada.

55. CULTURAL ACHIEVEMENTS
In Al-Andalus, economic prosperity and intellectual tolerance allowed cultural activities to
flourish:
● LIBRARIES: In the 10th century, the caliph Al-Hakam II amassed a huge library, which
was claimed to have over 400,000 books. Other wealthy individuals also had great
libraries, where manuscripts were translated.
● POETRY: Was a popular art. Court poets were paid a salary. Other poets travelled
around and recited their poems at festivals.
● PHILOSOPHY AND SCIENCE. Muslim philosophers and scientists like Averroes and
Avempace had great influence. Maimonides was a leading Jewish philosopher.