This is a presentation from the teacher Rocío Bautista from IES Camilo Jose Cela. I uploaded it so that my students and everyone interested in this topic can find it. Really good for bilingual history 2nd ESO when learning about the Iberian Peninsula during 8th to 11th centuries and Al- Andalus.

1. 2º ESO
IES Camilo José Cela
Teacher: Rocío Bautista

2. 1st Millenium BC
PRE-ROMAN PEOPLE:
- Phoenicians, Greeks,
Carthaginians, Tartessians.
- Iberians, Celts.
3rd Century BC –
476 AD
ROMAN
HISPANIA
476 – 711
711 – 1492
VISIGOTH
KINGDOM
COEXITANCE OF:
- AL-ANDALUS (south)
- CHRISTIAN KINGDOMS (north)

3. 
8th - 15th centuries: some parts of
the Iberian Peninsula were ruled by
the Moors and other parts by the
Christians. The territories ruled by
each of them varied along history:

711-722: The moors conquered most
of the Iberian Peninsula. The territory
under their control is known as AlAndalus.

722-1492: Christian kingdoms of
the north of the Iberian Peninsula
In this unit we’re going to
fought to regain control over the
study Al-Andalus & the
territories ruled by the Moors.
Christian kingdoms from the
beginning of their
This historical process which
lasted over 7 centuries is known as coexistance (711) until the
moment when Al-Andalus lost
the “Reconquista”.
th
th
its unity (1031)  8 -11
centuries.

4. 8th Century
800
9th Century
756
INDEPENDENT
EMIRATE
10th Century
1000
929
CALIPHATE
OF
CORDOBA
11th Century
IBERIAN.PEN.
1031
1100
814
900
751 768
TREATY OF VERDUN. UNITY
LOSS
CHARLEMAGNE DIES
CHARLEMAGNE
CAROLINGIANS
DESINTEGRATION OF THE
CALIPHATE. TAIFA KINGDOMS
(Al-Andalus area) 711
START CAROLINGIAN
DINASTY (Pippin the Short)
(Muslims VS Franks, with Charles
Martel as Mayor of Palace.
BATTLE OF POITIERS
MEROVINGIANS
CALIPHATE OF CORDOBA
700
732
ABDERRAMAN I. BEINNING OF
INDEPENDENT EMIRATE
DEPENDENT
EMIRATE OF
DAMASCUS
MOORS BEGIN CONQUEST

What was happening in Europe at the same time…??
FEUDALISM
EUROPE
843

5. 

Muslims conquered most of the Iberian Peninsula in the early
8th century. They called this territory Al-Andalus.
While the Muslims in Al-Andalus remained politically united
(711-1031) we can distinguish 3 periods:
The conquest. The dependent emirate of Damascus (711-756)
 The independent emirate (756-929)
 The caliphate of Córdoba (929-1031)


6. 
711: the Muslim army leaded by Tarik (lieutenant of Musa, the Muslim
governor in N. Africa) crossed the Strait of Gibraltar to plunder the area.
 Tarik’s army, formed by Arabs but mostly Berbers soldiers, defeated and
killed the Visigoth king Don Rodrigo at the battle of Guadalete (711).
 This easy victory encouraged them to advance further, and within 4 years
they conquered most of the Peninsula. This rapid conquest was possible
due to the following factors:





Superior power of the Muslim army
Visigoth's political internal conflicts (Don Rodrigo VS Witiza’s followers)
Support that Muslims received from some Jews and Visigoth nobles that agreed to
surrender in exchange for being allowed to keep their properties.
After the conquest, Al-Andalus became an emirate (province) depending
politically & religiously on the Umayyad caliphate in Damascus. The
capital of the emirate was Córdoba.
722: Don Pelayo (Visigoth noble) led a revolt in Asturias and defeated the
Muslims in the battle of Covadonga (722). It was the beginning of the
“Reconquista”. After this battle only some territories in the north
remained Christian.

7. Don Rodrigo, the last Visigoth
king, died in the Battle of
Guadalete (711)

8. 711
712
Umayyads
Umayyads
715
722
Umayyads
Asturias
Umayyads

9. Don Pelayo and the Battle of
Covadonga (722), beginning of
the Reconquista.
Monument to Don Pelayo in
Covadonga (
)

10. 


DO YOU REMEMBER…?? In Arabia, in 750, the Abbasid dynasty
deposed the Umayyads, killing all of them. But one of them
achieved to escape: Abderraman I !!!
756: escaping from the Abbasids, the Umayyad prince
Abderraman I arrived in the Iberian Peninsula. Taking
advantage of the local tensions between Arabs & Berbers, he
deposed the emir (Yusuf), and he proclaimed himself an
independent emir. The emirate was politically independent, but
it still recognized the religious authority of the Abbasid caliphs
in Baghdad.
During this period Al-Andalus had to confront several conflicts:
Against the Christian Kingdoms  advancing from the North.
 Against the Franks  since Charlemagne conquered Girona and
Barcelona, establishing the Spanish March.
 Against the Muladi rebellion  Iberians converted to Islam, who felt
discriminated.


12. 
929: Abderraman III (emir since 912) proclaimed himself
Caliph, leading to a political and religious independence from
the Abbasid Caliphate of Baghdad. His reign was the period of
greatest splendour of Al-Andalus:
He ended internal rebellions.
 Controlled the expansion of the Christians in the north, which had to pay
tributes to the Muslims so they wouldn't be attacked.
 Cordoba became the most prosperous capital in the West.


The prosperity continued under other caliphs like Hisham II:
Hisham II was only 10 years old when he became caliph, so the real
power was in hands of his regent and vizier (prime minister) Almanzor.
 With Almanzor the Caliphate achieved its greatest successes over the
Christian Kingdoms (eg: plunders of Santiago, Barcelona…).


1031: after Almanzor's death the caliphate fell into crisis, due
to a civil war between followers of Almanzor’s son & Hisham II.
In 1031 the governors of the provinces (koras) declared their
independence, so the Caliphate of Cordoba was disintegrated
into 28 independent kingdoms called “Taifas”.

15. Open your notebook, and in a new page write the title
“Al-Andalus: historical periods” and copy the chart
Al-Andalus: historical periods
PERIOD
DEPENDENT
EMIRATE
INDEPENDENT
EMIRATE
CALIPHATE OF
CORDOBA
CHRON
OLOGY
MOST IMPORTANT EVENTS
WHO HAD THE WHO HAD THE
AL-ANDALUS IS
POLITICAL
RELIGIOUS
GOVERNED BY A…
POWER?
POWER?

16. 1)
Fill in the column “Chronology” by looking for the corresponding
dates in your book.
2)
Fill in the column “Most important events” by placing each of these
statements in the corresponding box!! You have to put 2 in each box.
• Abderraman III declares religious independence of Baghdad. Golden
age: end internal rebellions, control of Christian Kingdoms,
prosperity...
• Visigoths defeated at the battle of Guadalete (711). Al-Andalus
becomes a dependent emirate of the Caliphate of Damascus.
• Abderraman I, only survivor of the Umayyads, arrives in Al-Andalus
and declares himself an independent emir.
• Beginning of the Reconquista at the battle of Covadonga (722).
• Conflicts against: Christians of the North, Franks and Muladi
rebellion.
• Almanzor (vizier of Hishan II) achieves greatest successes over the
Christian Kingdoms. After his death: disintegration of Caliphate
into 28 independent kingdoms or Taifas.

17. 3)
Fill in the columns “WHO HAD THE POLITICAL POWER?” & “WHO HAD
THE RELIGIOUS POWER?” by… thinking about what I’ve explained in
class & using your book!!
Say who had the political/religious power, and to which family did he belong!!!
Example:
4)
Fill in the column “Al-Andalus is governed by a…” using the following
options:
• Emir (with political power, but recognizes the religious authority of
the Abbasid Caliph in Baghdad)
• Caliph (with political and religious power)
• Emir (without political or religious power)

18. PERIOD
DEPENDENT
EMIRATE
INDEPENDENT
EMIRATE
CALIPHATE OF
CORDOBA
WHO HAD THE
POLITICAL
POWER?
WHO HAD THE
RELIGIOUS
POWER?
AL-ANDALUS IS
GOVERNED BY A…
711
756
•Visigoths defeated at the battle
of Guadalete (711). Al-Andalus
The Caliph of
becomes a dependent emirate of
Damascus
the Caliphate of Damascus.
(Umayyad)
•Beginning of the Reconquista at
the battle of Covadonga (722).
The Caliph of
Damascus
(Umayyad)
Emir (without
political or
religious power)
756
929
•Abderraman I, only survivor of
the Umayyads, arrives in AlAndalus and declares himself an
independent emir.
• Conflicts against: Christians of
the North, Franks and Muladi
rebellion.
The emir
(Umayyad)
Emir (with
political power,
The Caliph of but recognizes
Baghdad
the religious
(Abbasid)
authority of the
Abbasid Caliph in
Baghdad)
929
1031
•Abderraman III declares
religious independence of
Baghdad. Golden age: end
internal rebellions, control of
Christian Kingdoms, prosperity...
•Almanzor (vizier of Hishan II)
achieves greatest successes over
the Christian Kingdoms. After his
death: disintegration of
Caliphate into 28 independent
kingdoms or Taifas.
The Caliph of
Cordoba
(Umayyad)
CHRONO
LOGY
MOST IMPORTANT EVENTS
The Caliph of
Cordoba
(Umayyad)
Caliph (with
political and
religious power)

19. 

CULTURE:
 Al-Andalus was one of the great cultural centres during
the Middle Ages in Europe, specially during the
Caliphate of Cordoba (10th-11th century).
 Important scholars of the time were:
 Ibn Hazm (historian, philosopher and poet)
 Abulcasis (medicine)
 Maslama al-Majriti (astronomer)
ART: most important artistic achievements:


Great Mosque of Cordoba
Palace of Medina Azahara

20. He also wrote “The Ring of the Dove”, a treatise on the art and practice of arab
love in Al-Andalus (in English; in Spanish)

21. Page from a 1531
Latin translation of El
Zahrawi's treatise on
surgical and medical
instruments
He is consider the “father” of modern surgery. Eg: he was the 1st to use silk
thread to sew up surgical cuts.

22. Our current numerical system was brought to Europe by the
Muslims!!!!

23. The first building was built in 785 (Independent Emirate)
under Abderraman I.
 Due to population growth, new additions were added later:
 1st extension: Abderraman II
 2nd extension: Alhaken II
 3rd extension: Almanzor (Hishan II caliphate)
 In the 13th Century (1236), Cordoba was conquered by the
Christians and the mosque was made a Catholic church.
During the following centuries, several Christian features
were added.

ANIMATION OF THE ADDITIONS OF THE MOSQUE:
http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2001/graficos/mayo/semana3/mezquita/presentacion.html
EXPLORE THE MOSQUE!!
http://www.catedraldecordoba.es/index.asp

26. 
The mosque includes

A hall of prayer separated by double arches:

Lower  horseshoe arch

Higher  semicircular arch

The kiblah (wall facing Mecca)

The mihrab (where the Koran was kept). Decorated with:

Inscriptions of the Koran (epigraphy)

Vegetable designs (arabesque)

A courtyard with a fountain to make the ablutions.

A minaret from where the muezzin called people to prayer.

28. PRAYER HALL
Double arches
(horseshoe &
semicircular)

29. MIHRAB

30. MINARET

31. ORANGETREE COURTYARD

32. 



Huge Muslim palace-city built by Abderraman III in the 10th
Century.
Located in the outskirts of Córdoba.
It was built to be the capital of the Caliphate of Cordoba:
royal residence & and seat of the government.
Today only ruins remain.

34. 3D Reconstruction
of the Palace of
Medina Azahara:
http://www.youtube.com/
watch?feature=player_e
mbedded&v=RDXCSEyg
Udo

35. 

Christian groups in the mountains located at the north of the
peninsula resisted the Muslim conquest. Over time, these areas
developed into independent kingdoms.
We can distinguish two areas where independent Christian
Kingdoms appeared:

CANTABRIAN AREA:



Kingdom of Asturias (later called Kingdom of Leon)
County of Castilla
PYRENEAN AREA:



Kingdom of Pamplona
Kingdom of Aragón
Catalan Counties
1037: unified 
Kingdom of
Castilla y León

37. KINGDOM OF ASTURIAS:
 It’s origin dates back to the battle of Covadonga (722), when
Don Pelayo and the local inhabitants (Astures) defeated the
Muslims.
 In 808, Pelayo’s successors established the capital in Oviedo.
 By the early 10th Century, under Alfonso III (866-909), the
kingdom extended to the Duero River.
 To have a better control over the territory, the capital was
moved to León (914): from then on it was known as the
Kingdom of León.
 At the end of the century the expansion was stopped due to
Almanzor’s plunder campaigns.
Asturias

38. (Don Pelayo & Alfonso I)

40. COUNTY OF CASTILLA:
 Muslim troops attacked the Kingdom of Asturias through its
eastern border (today: north of Burgos, Álava…). For that
reason, several counties were established in this territory to
defend the kingdom. They were ruled by counts, and several
castles where built in the area.
Can you guess why is it
called “Castilla”!!?!?!




In the 10th Century (951) these counties where unified by one
of them: Fernán Gonzalez.
In 1030 Castilla was unified with the Kingdom of Pamplona.
(Sancho III el Mayor married Fernan Gonzalez’s great-granddaughter)
In 1035 Castilla was inherited by Fernando I* (son of Sancho III el
Mayor), who made it an independent kingdom.
In 1037 Fernando I defeated the king of León (Bermudo III) and
formed the Kingdom of Castilla y León.

41. Territories of the Kingdom of Pamplona divided by Sancho III el Mayor
between his sons when he died in 1035.
The county of Castilla was inherited by Fernando I, who in 1037 unified
Castilla & León (Kingdom of Castilla & León) by defeating Bermudo III.

43. REMEMBER:
 732: Charles Martel defeated the Muslims at the battle of
Poitiers.
 During the reign of Charlemagne, they conquered Girona (785)
and Barcelona (801), so by the beginning of the 9th Century
they established the Spanish March all along the Pyrenees. The
Spanish March was formed by several counties, which were the
origin of 3 Christian Kingdoms:



Kingdom of Pamplona
Kingdom of Aragón
Catalan Counties

44. KINGDOM OF PAMPLONA:
 9th Century: a Vascon family (the Aristas), gained independence
both from the Muslims (711-799) and the Franks (799-810), and
established the Kingdom of Pamplona.
 11th Century: the kingdom was at its peak under Sancho III el
Mayor, who died in 1035 and divided it between his sons:



Pamplona  for García I
Castilla  for Fernando I
Aragón  for Ramiro I
Now they become independent kingdoms

45. KINGDOM OF ARAGÓN:
 9th Century: it was an area under control of the Franks (counties
of Aragón, Sobrarbe & Ribagorza).

10th Century: it was made part of the Kingdom of Pamplona
(marriage of the daughter of the count of Aragón with the king of Pamplona García Sánchez I)

In 1035 Sancho III el Mayor died and his son Ramiro I inherited
the territories of Aragon and made it an independent kingdom.

46. CATALAN COUNTIES:
 End of the 8th Century: the area was conquered by the Franks
(785, Girona - 801, BCN) and became part of the Spanish March.
 End of the 9th Century (878): Wilfredo el Velloso unified all the
Catalan Counties, and made the title of count hereditary.
 End 10th Century (988): they become independent from the
Franks, since they didn’t helped the Count of Barcelona (Borrell
II) when the city was plundered by Almanzor’s troops (985).

47. Iberian peninsula
(8th-11th century)
AL-ANDALUS
(SOUTH)
Dependent
Emirate of
Damascus
(711-756)
Independen
t Emirate
(756-929)
Caliphate of
Córdoba
(929-1031)
CHRISTIAN KINGDOMS
(NORTH)
KINGDOM OF
ASTURIAS
Origin: battle of
Covadonga (722),
Don Pelayo & the
Astures defeated
the Muslims.
808: capital
established in
Oviedo.
Early 10th Century:
under Alfonso III the
kingdom extended
to the Duero River.
914: capital moved
to Leon to control
the territory better
 Kingdom of
León.
End 10th Century:
expansion stopped
due to Almanzor’s
plunder campaigns.
KINGDOM OF
PAMPLONA
KINGDOM OF
ARAGÓN
Century: a Vascon
family (the Aristas),
gained independence
both from the Muslims
and the Franks, and
established the
Kingdom of Pamplona.
11th Century: the
kingdom was at its peak
under Sancho III el
Mayor, who ruled over
Pamplona, Aragón (since
10th Century) & Castilla
(since 1030).
He died in 1035 and
divided the kingdom
between his sons:
- Pamplona
- Castilla  Fernando I
- Aragón  Ramiro I
9th Century: it’s a
county under
control of the
Franks.
10th Century: it
was made part of
the Kingdom of
Pamplona
(marriage).
1035: Aragon was
inherited by
Ramiro I (son of
Sancho III el Mayor
of Pamplona); it
becomes an
independent
kingdom.
COUNTY OF CASTILLA
Origin: as a county in the
Eastern border of the
Kingdom of Asturias to
stop Muslim’s attacks.
Ruled by counts; many
castles.
10th Century: these
counties where unified by
the count Fernán
Gonzalez.
1030: it was made part of
the Kingdom of Pamplona
(marriage).
1035: Castilla was
inherited by Fernando I
(son of Sancho III el Mayor
of Pamplona); it becomes
an independent kingdom.
1037: Fernando I
defeated the king of León
 formed Kingdom of
Castilla y León.
9th
CATALAN COUNTIES
End of the 8th
Century: conquered
by the Franks (785,
Girona - 801, BCN) and
became part of the
Spanish March.
End of the 9th
Century: Wilfredo el
Velloso unified all the
Catalan Counties, and
made the title of
count hereditary.
End 10th Century:
they become
independent from the
Franks, since they
didn’t helped the
Count of Barcelona
when the city was
plundered by
Almanzor’s troops.

48. 
While Muslims were building mosques & palaces in Al-Andalus,
in the area occupied by the Christian Kingdoms different
artistic styles appeared:

PRE-ROMANESQUE ART



Asturian art (8-9th Century)
Mozarabic art (10th Century)
ROMANESQUE ART (11-12th Centuries)
8th – 9th Century
10th Century
11th – 12th Century
ASTURIAN ART
MOZARABIC ART
ROMANESQUE ART
PRE-ROMANESQUE ART

49. Copy and fill in this chart
STYLE
P
R
E
R
O
M
A
N
E
S
Q
U
E
CHRONOLOGY
LOCATION
CHARACTERISTICS
ASTURIAN
MOZARABIC
Catalonian area:
ROMANESQUE
Way of St.James:
EXAMPLES

50. 
ASTURIAN ART:
Chronology: 8th – 9th Century
 Location: Kingdom of Asturias
 Characteristics:
 Semicircular arches
 Barrel vaults
 Buttresses
 Examples:
 Santa María del Naranco.
 San Miguel de Lillo.


51. Santa María del Naranco
(9th Century; Oviedo)

52. Barrel vault in
the interior of
Santa María del Naranco
(9th Century; Oviedo)

53. San Miguel de Lillo
(9th Century; Oviedo)

54. 
MOZARABIC ART:
Chronology: 10th Century
 Location: mostly in the Kingdom
of León (capital since 914).
 Characteristics:
 Influence of Arab art due to the
Mozarabs that emigrated from
Al-Andalus to the new territories
under Christian control.
 Horseshoe arches
 Wooden roofs
 Examples:
 San Miguel de la Escalada (León)
 San Cebrián de Mazote
(Valladolid)


55. San Miguel de la Escalada
(10th Century; León)

56. Interior of San Miguel de la Escalada
(10th Century; León)

57. San Cebrián de Mazote
(10th Century; Valladolid)

58. Interior of
San Cebrián de Mazote
(10th Century; Valladolid)

59. Santiago de Peñalba
(10th Century; León)
Can you find any
similarity with
this door of the
Mosque of
Cordoba???!

60. 
ROMANESQUE ART:



Chronology: 11th – 12TH Centuries
Location: all the Christian Kingdoms.
Characteristics:
 Catalonian area:
• Blind arches
• High bell towers
 Along the Way of St.James: French Romanesque influence; spread due to the
pilgrimage route known as “Camino de Santiago” that ends in Galicia:
• Thick walls, few windows & dark interiors.
• Semicircular arches, and barrel & groin vaults.
• Latin cross plan.
• Ambulatory behind the altar where pilgrims could walk around.
• Decoration: sculptures in the entrances & columns; fresco mural paintings.

Examples:
 Catalonian area:
• Sant Climent de Taüll (Lleida)
• Santa María de Taüll (Lleida)
 Along the Way of St.James:
• San Martín de Fromista (Palencia)
• Cathedral of Santiago (A Coruña)

61. Blind arches

62. Bell tower of
Sant Climent de Taüll
(12th Century; Lleida)

63. Frescos in the main
chapel of
Santa María de Taüll
(12th Century; Lleida)

64. Way of St. James
(Camino de Santiago)

65. Entrance to San Martín de Frómista
(11th Century; Palencia)

66. Barrel vault inside
San Martín de Frómista
(11th Century; Palencia)

67. Cathedral of Santiago
(11th Century; Santiago de Compostela)

68. Portal of Glory.
Cathedral of Santiago
(11th Century; Santiago de
Compostela)

69. Sculpture
decoration in the
side entrance
(“Platerías door”)
to the
Cathedral of
Santiago
(11th Century; Santiago de
Compostela)

70. Ambulatory around the altar of the
Cathedral of Santiago
(11th Century; Santiago de Compostela)

71. Interior of the
Cathedral of Santiago
(11th Century; Santiago de Compostela)