al-Ándalus

1. AL-ÁNDALUS -

THE MUSLIM CONQUEST Arabs and Berbers crossed from North Africa to the Iberian Peninsula in 711.(Berber were ethnic groups living in North Africa) Muslim armies defeated the Visigoths under the King Rodrigo at the Battle of Guadalete in 711, beginning he Islamic conquest of the Iberian Peninsula.

The conquest was fast and successful due to: 1. Rapid islamic expansion through the Mediterranean 2. Internal divisions in the Visigothic kingdom betwwen the nobility and the monarchy. One of them adked fro help from the Muslim of North Africa in their civil war with King Rodrigo.

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Visigothic kingdom was defeated In few years Muslim armies conquered nearly al the peninsula, and gave to this territory the name of al-Ándalus. Its capital was Córdoba.

Most of Visigothic population accepted the Muslim rulers.

Visigothic nobility accepted them in exchange for keeping their estates.

Only the mountainous areas in the north were independent.

1. AL-Ă NDALUS -

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THE EMIRATE OF CORDOBA (756-929) There was a crisis in the Muslim world in he 8 th century when the Umayyad dynasty was defeated by the Abbasids.

An Umayyad prince escaped to the control from Damascus and arrived to the Iberian Peninsula.

This prince under the name of Abd al- Rahman I, founded an independent Emirate in Cordoba.

He accepted the religious authority of the Abbasid caliphs , but not their political authority

1. AL-Ă NDALUS THE CALIPHATE OF CORDOBA (929-1031)

- Abd al –Rahman III declared Al-Andalus a Caliphate in 929.

- Caliphs were absolute rulers who had both political and religious authority.

- They based their power on ministers (viziers), provincial governors (walis) and judges (cadis).

- There was a period of great cultural and economic achievement.

- Ab al-Rahman III strengthened its authority by winning victories against territories and stopped internal rebellions.

- But in thelate 10 th century, the Caliphate was weakened and caliphs had less influence. For instance, Hisam II was named caliph but he Grand Vizier Al-Mansurhad the real power.

- But when Al-Mansur died, there was a period of conflict which culminated in the break-up of the Caliphate.

1. AL-Ă NDALUS -

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THE TAIFA KINGDOMS (1031-1086) Many small Muslim kingdoms called Taifas were formed after the end of the Caliphate.

The most important were Zaragoza, Toledo, Badajoz, Sevilla Denia and Valencia.

Taifa kingdoms were prosperous and culturally avanced, but much weaker and smallr than the Caliphate.

For that reason, the Christians were able to make them pay taxes, or parias, in return for peace.