The document summarizes the history of Al-Andalus (Muslim Iberia) from the 8th century to the late 15th century. It was divided into several periods: the Dependent Emirate (711-8th century), Independent Emirate (8th century), Caliphate of Cordoba (10th century), Taifas kingdoms (11th century), rule by the Almoravids and Almohads (11th-12th centuries), and finally the Nasrid Kingdom of Granada (1212-1492) until its conquest by Castile. Key events included the initial Muslim conquest in 711, the establishment of the Caliphate of Cordoba as the zen

1. María Jesús Campos
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2.  The Dependent Emirate (711-mid 8thcentury)
 The Independent Emirate (2nd half 8th century-
1st half 10th century)
 The Caliphate of Cordoba (1st half 10th century-
1st half 11th century)
 The 1st Taifas (11th century)
 The Almoravids (end of 11th century-beginning
12th century)
 The 2nd Taifas (1st half 12th century)
 The Almohads (mid 12th century- 1212)
 The Nasrid Kingdom of Granada (1212-1492)

4.  At the beginning of the 8th
century a civil war broke out
on the Visigoth Kingdom of
Toledo.
 On one side there were the
followers of Don Rodrigo.
On the other side, the family
of the former king Witiza.
 Witiza’s side asked the
Islamic Empire, on the North
of Africa, for help.

5.  The Islamic Empire, by the beginning of the
8th century, was governed by the Umayyad
family. The Umayyad Caliphate has
extended its territories from Persia to the
North of Africa. Its capital was located in
Damascus.

6.  The Muslim governor of the
North of Africa was Musa,
who sent his soldiers,
commanded by general
Tariq, to the Iberian
Peninsula to help Witiza’s
family side.
 The Muslims entered the
Iberian Peninsula in the
year 711, but after
defeating the Visigoths in
the battle of Guadalete,
they did not leave. They
decided to settle and
conquer the Visigoth
Kingdom.

7.  The Visigoth Kingdom of
Toledo disappeared as
the Muslims invaded
the Iberian Peninsula.
Some Visigoths took
shelter on the northern
ranges of Asturias and
Cantabria.
 Muslims conquered
almost the entire
Iberian Peninsula and
called it Al- Andalus.

8.  Al-Andalus was part of the Umayyad Caliphate
but, as the caliph lived so far away, an emir
was named to govern Al-Andalus.
 The emir depended on the caliph’s orders
(religion, politics, army…) so this period is
called the Dependent Emirate.

9.  On the second half of
the 8th century, the
Abbasid family
obtained the power in
the Islamic Empire after
killing all the members
of the Umayyad family.
 Only one Umayyad
survived, Ab-al-Rahman.
He escaped to the
Iberian Peninsula where
he found refuge.

10.  Some time later, Abd-al-
Rahman declared
himself emir of Al-
Andalus as Abd-al-
Rahman I.
 This period is called the
Independent Emirate
as Abd-al-Rahman
declared he would follow
the Abbasid Caliph in
religious matters but he
would be independent
on politics.

11.  On the 10th century, Abd-
al-Rahman III inherited
the emirate and decided
not to obey the Abbasid
Caliph anymore.
 He named himself
caliph, thus creating the
Caliphate of Cordoba .
Al-Andalus caliph would
not obey the Abbasid
caliph neither in politics
not in religion anymore.

12.  The capital city was
Cordoba.
 The Caliphate of Cordoba
was the most important,
luxurious and powerful
period of Al-Andalus.
 By the end of the 10th
century, Hisham II
inherited the caliphate.
He was only 7 years old
so he was helped by
general Al-Mansur,
who was the real power
behind the caliph.

13.  Al-Mansur led
several raids
against the
Christian
Kingdoms in the
north, to obtain
money and
prisioners.

14.  When general Al-Mansur
died, an internal struggle
took place in the
caliphate.
 Finally, the Caliphate was
divided into taifas or
small kingdoms.
 The Taifas were
constantly fighting, they
were either attacked by
other taifas’ kings or by
the Christian Kingdoms.
 Some taifas paid parias
or taxes to the Christian
Kings to avoid the
attacks.

15.  Finally, some taifas’
kings asked for help
from the
Almoravids, a
muslim kingdom
located in the North
of Africa which was
also independent
from the Abbasid
Caliphate.

16.  The Almoravids went
to the Iberian
Peninsula to help the
taifas’ kings and stop
the Christian advance.
 Finally, they decided
to conquer the taifas
and reunite Al-Andalus
under its rule.

17.  In the first half of the 11th
century, the Almoravid
kingdom suffered internal
struggles and a civil war. It
was divided into taifas
again who also had to
resist the Christian
advance.

18.  In mid 12th century, the
Almohads, a Muslim group
from the North of Africa,
invaded the Iberian
Peninsula and conquered
the taifas.
 They tried to resist the
Christian kingoms’ advance
but were finally defeated at
the Battle of Las Navas
de Tolosa (1212).
 The Almohad kingdom
disappeared and Christians
conquered almost all of Al-
Andalus.

19.  After the Battle of Las
Navas de Tolosa
(1212), the only Muslim
kingdom that survived
on the Iberian Peninsula
was the Nasrid Kingdom
of Granada.
 It comprised Granada,
Malaga, Almería and the
eastern part of Cadiz.

20.  It was governed by the Nasrd
family.
 It was very weak so its king
became the vassal of the
Crown of Castile’s King, to
receive its protection.
 In exchange for protection,
the Nasrid king paid parias
to the Castilian king.
 Finally, the Nasrid kingdom
of Granada was conquered
by the Catholic Monarchs in
1492. It was included in the
Crown of Castile as a new
territory.

22.  Society was shaped by
religion. The most
powerful social groups
practiced Islam.
 Muslims had privileges
such as not to have to
pay taxes.

23.  Muslim groups:  Non-Muslim
 Arabs: were born in groups:
the Arabian Peninsula.
The had the best lands  Mozarabs: were
and hold political Christians. They had to
power. They did not pay
taxes. pay taxes. During the
 Berbers: were born in 9th century many
the north of Africa. migrated to the
They did not pay taxes Christian kingodms.
but could not hold
political power.  Jews: practiced
 Muladíes: former Judaism. They had to
Christians that had pay taxes. They were
converted into Islam.
The had few privilleges usually merchants or
but they did not pay money lenders.
taxes.

25.  Muslim economy
focused on
agriculture, trade
and crafts.
 Cities were very
important: in the
10th century
Cordoba had
100.000
inhabitants while
London had less
than 15.000.

26.  Cities had walls to
protect them. The
main area of the city
was the medina in
which the important
buildings such as the
alcazar (castle), the
aljama (main
mosque) or the souk
(market) were located.
 Usually they had
separated
neighbourhoods for
mozarabs and jews.

27.  Art flourished.
 Despite the poor materials
they used (bricks, plaster)
architecture was impressive
thanks to its abundant
decoration.
 They had beautiful geometric
or vegetable designs as well
as a beautiful calligraphy
which they used to decorate
walls and objects.
 Crafts had a high quality.

30. Developed by María Jesús Campos
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