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Moorish Spain and the Islamic Golden Ages (711 to 1492 AD)
The First Directive of the Islamic Faith: Pursuit of Knowledge and the Pratical Use of its Knowledge.
Overview
Part One
The First Directive of the Islamic Faith
A Brief History of Early Islam
Part Two
Moorish Spain's Golden Age
Emir Abd-al-Rahman 1
Part Three
Original Hispanic Heritage
Education was the first canon of Islam
The Art of Papermaking
Islamic Architectural Influences
Cordova's Lifestyle
Agriculture
Tracing the Doctrine of Revered Moorish Scholars
Cordoba
Additional al-Andalus information
Further al-Andalus related pages
Early Islam and Moorish SpainFrom 644 AD Islamic armies swept over Central Asia toward India and China. Before the end of their period of rule, their empire was larger than the Roman Empire. Millions were converted to Islamic faith. Muhammad's death 632 AD left no direct blood relatives to inheritAbu Bakr - although not a blood relative to Muhammad - was given power to manage the worldly affairs of the Islamic Empire. His title (in abbreviated English) became caliph. Abu Bakr died, passing the office of caliph to Omar ibn al-Khattab. Under Omar, Islam experienced its first wave of territorial expansion. Omar was assassinated in 644 AD. Othman ibn Affan was the next caliph. During his rule, the Koran was written and completed. He too was assassinated. His death caused splits in the Islamic community that last to this day. Ali ibn Abi Talib, finally became caliph, he was Muhammad's cousin (and adopted son, as son-in-law). Ali too was assassinated. Othamn's nephew, (head of the Umayyad Koresh tribes), seized control and established the first Umayyad caliphate, (the first Islamic dynasty: 661 to 750 AD). At this period, most of the Iberian peninsula, Spain and Portugal was conquered along with what was left of North Africa. After Ali's death the Umayyads turned the caliphate into a blood-liine succession, ruling from Damascus for almost a century until 750 AD. Presenting a Superb Islamic Expansion Interactive Map,
courtesy of www.wadsworth.com :
The Expansion of Islam
Activate the dots on the red bar below the Map.
The Abbasid’s overthrew the UmayyadsPurposely, severing all past Umayad connections, they switched the caliphate capital, to Baghdad. From 750 to 1258 AD, 37 Abbasid caliphs ruled the Islamic Empire, uninterrupted.
The Influence of Byzantinium Art
Clearly Visible in al-Hakim 11's Mihrab, Great Mosque of Cordoba.
Detailed Graphic, Exposed in Torre de la Calahorra, Cordoba.
Flat Image of the detail of al-Hakim 11's Mihrab shell.
Inside the Mezquita it is often difficult to capture the Mihrab's exquisite beauty.
Torre de la Calahorra specialize, exhibiting, detailed graphics or by using exceptionally good models, of al-Andalus lifestyle.
The Sole Surviving Young Prince and his Umayyad Legacy for al-Andalusia Abd al-Rahman 1, escaped from the Abbasids' persecution in 750 AD. The young prince after five lengthy years of terrifying flight, finally arrived, at the furthest frontier. He crossed the the Straights of Gibraltar, with the intention to settle in the new territories of al-Andalus. Allies and Loyalists SidedThe prince successfully overthrew the Governer, entered and took possession of Cordoba.His rule became known as The Independant Emirate, he ruled as Emir of Cordova.
His descendants referred to the Emirate as: the Umayyad Caliphate Revived.
The Umayyad dynasty reigned as Emirs of Cordova until Abd-ar-Rahman 111 declared the Cordovan Caliphate in 929 AD.
The Different Periods of Moorish Rule 711 to 1492 ADThe Dependent Emirate (711 to 756 AD)
The Independent Emirate (756 to 929 AD)
The Caliphate (929 to 1031 AD)
The Almoravid Era (1031 to 1130 AD)
Decline (1130 to 1492 AD)
Simultaneously, (because of continuous extension of the Islamic Empire) Europe became isolated, evolving into The Middle Ages. European Medieval Times perspective was steeped with illogical reasoning and irrational beliefs. Barbarity and illiteracy were commonplace. Squalor was ubiquitous.
The sole Umayyad heir was well accepted by the Iberian Muslims. He was half-Syrian and half-Berber (a direct bloodline from his mother). The Spanish called the Moors = Moors because they were largely Berbers and were black. The Berbers were a major part of the invasion-force.The ruling Arabs sustained a sense of racial superiority and purity of faith over the Berbers. Many Berbers were either of a pagan background or had been converted to Byzantine-Christianity. Emir Abd-al-Rahman 1, began creating the Umayyan legacy in Moorish Spain by commencing the conversion and construction of The Great Mosque of Cordoba (Aljama Mezquita) in 785 AD.
There were 7 million Christians and Sephardic Jews that inhabited the Iberian penninsular when the 711 to 716 AD conquest ocurred. Gradually the religious statistics changed but Muslims were never the majority in Moorish Spain. Moorish Spain Society had Definite Ranking Status - Arabs were supreme
- Berbers were the armed forces
- Converts: the Muladies (Christians who had converted to Islam)
- Jews (Sephardi Jews were native born converts)
- Christians
Click here to see a Moorish Geography Map of Europe
The Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians and Romans had collectively introduced:- Agriculture
- Irrigation
- Mathematics
- Time keeping
- The Calender
- Mining
- Architecture
- Road building
- Mosaic Art
- Pottery
- Jewellery
- Wine-Making
- Law and Civic Responsibility
Education was the first canon of IslamPre-Islamic civilizations, occupied by the expansion of the Islamic Empire: Eygpt, Persia, Byzantine, Israel, Syria, India, China and Greece. These "pre-Islamic societies" possessed their own intellectual philosophies, medicine - pharmacology, discoveries and sciences. Once absorbed into the Islamic Empire "that intelligence" was incorporated into Islamic culture. A Major Element to Muslim Successes The Art of Papermaking.
The Chinese had developed a cotton-paper. The paper-making secrets were extracted from Chinese prisoners - after the battle of Tallas 751 AD. Written documents were first preserved on Clay Tablets and Papyrus. As proven with the Phoenicians: Papyrus documents perished.
Parchment was extremely expensive. - Paper documents preserved excellently and could be copied extensively
- The secret of paper-manufacture catapulted Islam's first directive: education
- Translation, copying and reproducing of the collective wisdom of the pre-Islamic societies began - both in Baghadad and in Cordova
- Baghdad created the "House of Wisdom": It was literary society and outstanding library
- An inherent love of language and elegant Arabic poetry became a focal point to the educated al-Andaluz
- Calligraphy was highly regarded
TOP
The Art of Paper-Making
Polishing Paper with Hard Stone
The Excellence of Caligraphy
- Education became Universal. Literacy existed in every Social Class – meanwhile (in comparison), 99% of Christian Europe was illiterate
- Vast Libraries
- Widespread amount of Schools
- Universities: Cordoba, Sevilla, Valencia, Málaga, Granada
Cordoba was the Connecting Point - The Arabs Translated and studied the Ancient Masterpiece Works of: Aristotle, Archimedes, Apollonius, Euclid, Hipoocrates and Galen
- The philosophy of these works became the stimulating-point for the revival of European Civilizations
- Thousands of bookstores opened in Moorish Spain
TOP Islamic Architectural InfluencesSpectacular Islamic Architecture expressed revered worship of Islam, to the Caliph and to God. Moorish Spain's architecture symbolized the Caliph's or Emir's power.
Umayyan-styled Caliphal Architecture evolved which led to the wonders of the Rich Islamic Architecture - of Alhambra Granada Spain
It was the (refugee) Artisans of Granada who planned, constructed and embellished the magnificent Alhambra Palaces.
What was so special about the Alhambra's Architecture?.
The Generalife summer palace
Alhambra Granada Spain Water Technology
Alhambra Granada Palaces Gems Magical Artistic Corners of the Alhambra and its Political Intrigues
The Moors Reintroduced:
- Art
- Astronomy
- Mathematics
- Philosophy
- Physics
- Science
- Chemistry
Luna Mora
The Luna Mora Festival evokes how street lighting was done during the Moorish Spain epoch. One of the evening's highlights is the themed backkground of arabigo-andalusi, flamenco and sefardi, music and dance.Over twenty-thousand candles illuminate Guaro during Luna Mora.
- Cordoba had illuminated-paved streets with pedestrian sidewalks – several hundred years before London or Paris could boast of such amenities
- Lusterware: losa dorada, expensive gold-glazed ceramics
Moorish Agriculture
- Muslims perfected ancient and new techniques of raising river-water for irrigating fields
- The use of the Noria/water-wheel was introduced from the East
- New Plants were introduced to the Iberian peninsula
- The al-Andalus became a major manufacturer of Silk, especially, in the Alpujaras
- Tanneries
- In 961 AD, the Cordova Calender was published. Agricultural Exact Observations: soil-analysis, when to plough, when to irrigate and the correct times for planting or harvesting
- The meticuolous approach to crop rotations and varied types of manure according to each soil-type
- Famous Moorish Water Gardens were created
- Harvest preservation methods
- "The Green Revolution" was the cornerstone of the wealth and success of the Cordovan Caliphate
Excellence in intricate Gold Handicraft
Spain possessed a huge mineral wealth: copper, gold, tin, silver, lead, iron, mercury and alum were extensively mined
Toledo sword blades were considered the best in Europe
Murcian Brass and Iron factories produced first-class work
Gunpowder was introduced to Europe through the Arabs
Tracing the Doctrine of Revered Moorish Scholars
Advances in Medicine and Science:
New surgical techniques, new medical instruments, improvement in paediatrics, obstetrics, ophthalmology, anatomy
- Hospitals with running water
- The use of Latrines
- City Sewerage systems
- A Widespread Construction and Use of Public Baths
- The Distillation and popular use of Floral Essences
Cordoba under Abd-ar-Rahman 111 became the prime metropolitan-based economy of Europe. It was renowned for prosperous buisnesses. Local currency was Cordobes Gold. During this period, Cordova was the largest European source of urban concentration and in Moorish Spain.
Secrets of Spanish Perfumery
originate from Moorish Spain
Back to Andalucia-Andalusia's Homepage Top of Moorish Spain
Resources:
'Boutique'Paper-Making Museum
Casa Andalusi,
Calle Judios 12
14004 Cordoba.
Recommended ReadingDiscover the Moorish influence in Zaragoza Spain
Go to Historic Cordoba page
Go to Moslem Disunity and the Caliphate page
Go to Madinat az-Zahra page
Go to Madinat az-Zahara purpose page
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