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Moorish Spain and the Islamic Golden Ages (711 to 1492 AD)Moorish Spain' rule occurred as a consequence of Islamic expansion. "Education" was a primary factor in Islamic expansion... The First Directive of the Islamic Faith: Pursuit of Knowledge and the Practical Use of its Knowledge.
Overview Part OneThe First Directive of the Islamic Faith A Brief History of Early Islam Part Two Golden Age of the al-Andalus 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 Advances in Moorish Medicine Cordoba Moorish-Agriculture Specialities-of-al-Andalus-handicraftsman Over the next ten years Muhammad and his followers practised their new faith in Medina. Travelling caravens from Mecca and from Medina were attacked - from both sides. Muhammad preached, Islamic expansion was to be achieved, by starting (Jihad) religious wars with Infidel countries. Conquest was a religious duty to the Islamic faith. Conversions to Islam were many (in fact, millions), when faced by the power of the sword. Those who died, for the sake of Islamic expansion, became martyrs, attaining Paradise instantly. From 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 that of the Roman Empire. The Iberian Peninsula was a much sought-after prize in the extension of the Islamic faith: Iberia was an important entry-point to Central Europe. Muhammad's death 632 AD left no direct blood relatives to inheritfacts about the prophet muhammadAbu 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. The Abbasid’s overthrew the UmayyadsPurposely, severing all past Umayyad 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
Zenith of Moorish Spain Artwork The Sole Surviving Young Prince and his Umayyad Legacy for al-AndalusiaAbd 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 Abassidian Governor, entered and took possession of Cordoba.His rule became known as The Independant Emirate, he ruled as Emir of Cordova.
Golden Age of the al-AndalusThe 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. Emir Abd-al-Rahman 1The sole Umayyad heir was well accepted by the Iberian Muslims. He was half-Syrian and half-Berber (a direct bloodline from his mother).The Iberians called the Moors = Moors because they were largely Berbers and were black. 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. First Islamic Monument on Iberian SoilIt was Emir Abd-al-Rahman 1 who introduced islamic art and architecture during the construction of the first Islamic monument built in the al-Andalus. The famed Cordoba Mosque (Aljama Mezquita) incorporated much of Umayyan Mezquita History heritage, combining local techniques of Hispano Art and Architecture, all of which evolved in creating, the unique features of the Cordovan Mosque.Work commenced on Cordoba's Mosque in 785 AD. It was finalized - over two hundred years later. The other FaithsThere 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
Moorish Geography Map of Europe
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. From south west Asia, in the region known as : the Fertile Crescent emerged What is the Mediterranean Diet, this agricultural expertise was constantly improved on. Moorish Medicine advocated that healthy living was advantageous for all of the population. A Major Element to Muslim SuccessesThe 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.
The Art of Paper-Making
Polishing Paper with Hard Stone
The Excellence of Caligraphy
Cordoba was the Connecting Point
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.
Cordova's Lifestyle
Specialities of al-Andalus handicraftsman
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