1. Asmaa Ahmed Mohamed Aldhawi COL-145-502 Assignment 1
Islamic Architecture in Spain
Student Name: Asmaa Ahmed Mohamed Aldhawi
Course: COL-145-502
Instructor Name: Faisal Al-Attar
Fall 2011
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2. Asmaa Ahmed Mohamed Aldhawi COL-145-502 Assignment 1
Outline
1. Introduction
1.1 Definition of architecture
1.2 Definition of Islamic Architecture
1.3 Thesis Statement
2. Background Information
2.1 Moors in Spain
2.2 Improvements during the Islamic age
3. Discussion (Architecture)
3.1 The Great Mosque
3.2 Alhambra Palace
4. Analysis (Analysis of the Alhambra Palace)
4.1 The secret behind building the Alhambra Palace
4.2 The relation between Alhambra and the Islamic architecture (Religious
encouragement)
5. Conclusion
6. References
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3. Asmaa Ahmed Mohamed Aldhawi COL-145-502 Assignment 1
Islamic Architecture in Spain
1. Introduction
Architecture, in general, refers to “the art or practice of designing and constructing” and
describes particular time, culture, religion, or dynasty (Oxford dictionary, 2011; Esposite,
Sachedina, Sonn, & Voll, 2004). As the other architectures, Islamic architecture, which had been
influenced by other cultures and evolved through different ages, shows a visible overview of
Islamic history, culture, and religion (Esposite, Sachedina, Sonn, & Voll, 2004). Throughout
history, different eastern countries like Iran, Iraq, and India received a valuable Islamic legacy.
Furthermore, a western country, Spain, received distinctive, numerous, luxurious, Islamic
masterpieces. In Spain, an intellectual and wealthy civilization prospered (Hughes & Copestake,
2005). Although there is massive information about this thriving civilization, this report is
limited to a brief history, discusses two famous Moorish architectures, and focuses in one of
them.
2. Moors in Spain
Spanish architecture came through several periods, such as Roman period, Romanesque
period, and Gothic period. Each period was characterized with different and great architecture;
however, Islamic architecture appeared as a turning point in the history of Spain (Lapunzina,
2005). During Umayyad, the Islamic Spanish golden legacy began with the arrival of Muslim’s
army led by Tariq bin Ziyad in 711. At that time, the Iberian Peninsula was experiencing
weakness under the Goths’ rule. Therefore, an army of 12000 Muslims led by a young man
crossed the Strait of Gibraltar and prevailed in most of the Spanish cities including Malaga,
Toledo, Barcelona, and Zaragosa (Campo, 2009; Lapunzina, 2005; Dozy, 1932). In 750, the
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4. Asmaa Ahmed Mohamed Aldhawi COL-145-502 Assignment 1
Umayyad fell at the hand of Abbasids; in 755, an Umayyad survivor – Abd-al-Rahman I –
escaped from Abbasids and went to Iberia (Lapunzina, 2005). Abd-al-Rahman I had been
proclaimed as a ruler of the remaining Umayyad emirate of al-Andalus, the new Arab name that
was given to the Muslims conquest in the part of the Iberian Peninsula (Campo, 2009;
Lapunzina, 2005).
2.1 Improvements during the Islamic age
During Muslim’s rule in Andalusia (711-1492), Spain saw great improvements in various
aspects of life. According to Dozy (1932), the Arab conquest in the Iberian Peninsula was a
positive turning point; For instance, Christians could keep their properties and had the right to
sell them, which was forbidden in Goths' days (Dozy, 1932). Moreover, Muslims transferred to
Andalusia their civilization, literature, art, and architecture and gave great efforts in each field.
And one of the major representative characters who gave sophisticated efforts in building is Abd-
al-Rahman I (Lapunzina, 2005). His ambitious thoughts led him to construct buildings similar to
the one in Damascus and the other Islamic cities. The thriving Islamic history in Spain came to
the end in 1492. Nevertheless, different phases of the Islamic architectures in Spain show great
masterpieces represented in several buildings, such as the Great Mosque of Cordoba and Palace
of La Alhambra.
3. The Great Mosque
A lot of Islamic structures that exists in Spain symbolize the thriving civilization during
seven centuries. One of these creative Islamic masterpieces is the Great Mosque of Cordoba. It
was established during the rule of Abd-al-Rahman I in Cordoba between 784 and 786
(Lapunzina, 2005). Abd-al-Rahman I bought the entire Cathedral of San Vicente and started
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5. Asmaa Ahmed Mohamed Aldhawi COL-145-502 Assignment 1
building a Mosque (Lapunzina, 2005). As the other mosques, the Great
Mosque of Cordoba consisted of aisles and mihrab pointed to the quipla,
a wall indicates Mecca’s direction. However, by misunderstanding, most
of the ancient Spanish mosques are not precisely pointed toward Mecca;
the Andalusian thought that Mecca was in the South (Lapunzina, 2005).
Architecturally, the haram (praying hall) appeared as the most important
part in the entire .222mosque (see fig. 1). Lapunzina (2005) clarified that
“it consists of eleven aisles of twelve bays each, defined by a two-tiered
arcade supported on cylindrical columns” (p. 83). Muslims population was growing fast;
consequently, the Great Mosque of Córdoba was enlarged several times in each ruler’s period
(Hughes & Copestake, 2005).
4. Alhambra Palace
Another great part of the Islamic construction in Spain is
Palace of La Alhambra. This famous fortified architecture is
factually a network of linked construction that included Alcazaba,
the Royal Palace, the Garden of El Generalife, and different other
structures like the baths, mosques, and towers (see fig. 2) (Esposite,
Sachedina, Sonn, & Voll, 2004; Lapunzina, 2005). It was founded
by the first Nasrid sultan, Muhammad I and was continued by the
other Nasrid rulers. Palace of La Alhambra is a Castilian transformation from the origin Arabic
name “Cal’at al-Hamra” which means the Red Castle (Lapunzina, 2005). It was named the Red
Castle because of the walls with the red-colored clays brought from the hill (Lapunzina, 2005).
There are five gates in the Alhambra’s wall with different special characteristics. One of these
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6. Asmaa Ahmed Mohamed Aldhawi COL-145-502 Assignment 1
gates built in 1238 and named “Puerta de la Justicia” (Gate of Justice); it
has a wonderful pointed horse-shoe arch (see fig. 3) (Lapunzina, 2005).
There are also several courts like the Court of Myrtles and the Court of
Lions. Each element of the Alhambra and the other Moorish architecture
represents the positive existence of Muslims in Spain. In history,
Granada resisted the Spanish and the European armies alone after the
fall of the rest kingdoms. Nevertheless, Granada with her famous castle,
Alhambra, was defeated by the Spaniards.
5. Analysis of the Alhambra Palace
Alhambra is a product of a religious empire dominated from
China to Africa (Hughes & Copestake, 2005). Starting from the early
days of Islam, Prophet Muhammad and his followers cared about their
religion and were interested in learning. Their religious book, the Holy
Quran, mentions the garden of delights. Therefore, Andalusian made an
effort to make their buildings similar to the Quran description of
paradise which called “Ferdowsi Design”. Alhambra, for example,
shows a great piece of architecture with this type of design. The
channels, which were dug in each side of the palace, are taken from the Holy Quran, chapter 1,
verse 25, when Allah says “theirs are Gardens underneath which rivers flow” (see fig. 4) (Quran
explorer; AlShugairi, 2011).
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7. Asmaa Ahmed Mohamed Aldhawi COL-145-502 Assignment 1
5.1 Religious encouragement
Muslims were encouraged to learn by their prophet. The encouragement to be educated
changed Muslims life from living at the dessert to living at one of the unique universal palaces.
To illustrate, with advent of Islam, Muslims were involved in learning
different sciences like astronomy, mathematics, and medicine. Most of
the beautiful decorations in the Alhambra Palace are the result of
complex mathematical problems and statistics (see fig. 5). In other
words, the moors of Spain used mathematical engineering to build these
extremely beautiful buildings. Muslims’ interest in their religion led
them to be more educated; therefore, it guided them for more beautiful,
luxurious, lavish life.
6. Conclusion
Islamic Architecture in Spain symbolizes Muslims relationship with their religion and
culture. They challenged until the last moment and their efforts did not go in vain. There
traditional Islamic architectures are still standing high showing a story of a thriving history, even
behind the ruler palace. An original Arab wall is still stand there (Hughes & Copestake, 2005).
Alhambra and the other construction had seen both, the happiness and the sadness moments.
They tell the story of the successful Moorish culture in Spain; at the same time, they tell the end
of this blooming civilization. Numerous lessons in different fields could be benefited from the
Islamic seven centuries in Spain. Last but not least, a hard work and diligent never gone with the
wind.
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8. Asmaa Ahmed Mohamed Aldhawi COL-145-502 Assignment 1
References
AlShugairi, A. (2010, September 5). Panic of the Void [Adobe Flash Player]. Retrieved from
http://www.youtube.com/user/AhmadAlShugairi#p/c/9AF792A465B7FD1D/15/NNWzdr
KMtfI
Archnet. (n.d.). Digital library. Retrieved from http://archnet.org/library/
Campo, J. (2009). Encyclopedia of Islam (Melton, Ed.). New York, NY: Checkmark Books.
Dozy, R. (1932). Muslims in Andalusia [Adobe Digital Editions version]. Retrieved from
http://al-mostafa.info/data/arabic/depot2/gap.php?file=000500.pdf
Esposite, Sachedina, Sonn, & Voll (Eds.). (2004). The Islamic World. (Vol. 1, pp. 28-46). United
Kingdom, UK: Oxford University Press.
Fazzamin. (2009, October 17). When the moors ruled Europe [Adobe Flash Player]. Retrieved
from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PM8HnvuKbAo&feature=related
Lapunzina, A. (2005). Architecture of Spain (Hanser, Ed.). United States of America, USA:
Greenwood Publishing Group.
Mossel, J. (2008, May 11). Alhanbra water channels [Flickr]. Retrieved from
http://www.flickr.com/photos/julianvmf/3194742063/in/photostream/
Quran Explorer. (n.d.). Surah Al-Baqara. Retrieved from http://www.quranexplorer.com/quran/
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