Transcript Independence

ISLAMIC SPAIN
An Empire Centered on
Tolerance and Independence
Themes
Tolerance
Independence
Caroline Wesley
Geographical overview
“Early Islamic Expansion”, The Rise of Islam, n.d.,
< http://www.clas.ufl.edu/users/sterk/ImagesLA/Images12.9.htm > (May 9, 2013).
Adrian Lambert & Leah Sack
Historical overview
The history of Islamic Spain began in 711 CE when Muslim
forces originally from Arabia invaded from North Africa.
After seven years they had conquered the Iberian
peninsula. The Great Islamic rule was not a single period,
but a succession of different rulers.
•The Dependent Emirate (711-756): Period of rule
following the conquest.
The Golden Age
(756-1031): time of
•The Independent Emirate (756-929): Abd Al-Rahman
established the Umayyad dynasty with its capital at
great scientific,
Cordova.
cultural, and
•The Caliphate (929-1031): Time of the Caliphate of
political
Cordoba. “La Reconquista” of Al Andalus begins, with
developments.
Christians invading from the North.
•The Almoravid Era (1031-1130)
•Decline (1130-1492); Much of Islamic Spain is conquered
during this time, but the kingdom of Granada held out
until 1492, largely due to their advanced system of
fortifications.
Organized System of Belief
Theo Demas
Information panel:
Religion
In 612 prophet
Muhammad has his first
revelation in a cave near
Mecca. Islam spreads as a
religion based on morals
found in the holy Quran. In
711, southern Spain was taken
by the moors. The moors were
Muslims from North Africa. In
756, Abd al-Rahman became
Caliph of Islamic Spain.
Rahman makes southern
Spain a Muslim state called
Andalusia with the capital city
called Cordoba.
2013, http://actforamerica.wordpress.com/2011/09/19/the-writtentext-at-the-time-of-the-prophet-muhammad/
(May 9, 2013)
•
The Dangers of Allah:
The Written Text at the
Time of the Prophet
Muhammad
Organized System of Belief
Theo Demas
Islam in Iberia
Statue of Abd al
Rahman
Encyclopedia Britannica: Abd al Rahman, 2013, http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/759/Abd-al-Rahman-I ( May 9, 2013)
Organized System of Belief
Theo Demas
Islam
A letter
written by
prophet
Muhammad
Islam.ru: Prophet Muhammad’s letters to various kings, 2013, http://islam.ru/en/content/story/prophet-muhammads-pbuh-lettersvarious-kings (May 9, 2013)
Politics & Government/Law
Adrian Lambert
Information panel:
government and law
In Islamic Spain politics and government had been subject to many changes. Power in a region
rested primarily in the hands of a single individual. After the conquest of Visigothic Spain,
specifically between 711CE and 756CE, power was in the hands of the military and local officials;
“Al Andalus” was still largely dependent on the Middle East. In 756, the Umayyad dynasty was
expelled from the Middle East via a rebellion. Abd Al-Rahman, a member of the family, escaped
the rebellion and established the Umayyad dynasty in Al Andalus. He based his government at
the city of Cordova; Spain was now a collection of smaller “sub-kingdoms” that were all centred
around the primary kingdom in Cordova. However, this system began to destabilize in the 9 th
century, causing several revolts. Abd Al-Rahman III mended the situation by becoming the
absolute ruler of all of Al Andalus and by making himself a “caliph”; an Islamic ruler with both a
political influence and a religious influence. His government was called a caliphate. However,
within the next few centuries, power struggles and revolts caused the caliphate to decline until its
abolishment in the 1030s. Al Andalus was again divided into smaller kingdoms, marking an end
of the “Golden Age” of Islamic Spain. Christians from the north invaded, eventually
reconquering all of Spain. The last kingdom to fall was Granada, in 1492.
The law in Islamic Spain was a combination of traditional Islamic law and Visigothic law, which
has Roman origins. The Muslims had many sophisticated laws on a variety of subjects,
particularly taxes, tariffs, and other trade matters. Additionally, the legal system of Al- Andalus
permitted Christains and Jews to continue to practice their respective religions without any major
interference from the state. This policy of religious tolerance did not see the Muslims and the
“Mozerabs” as equals; Christians and Jews were still regarded as second-class citizens, and were
subject to some restrictions, such as not being able to carry weapons and not being able to own a
Muslim slave. However, considering the time period, this policy is still regarded by most as being
completely revolutionary. In spite of the political instabilities that occurred during the history of
Al-Andalus, this system continued to form the basis of legal systems.
Politics & Government/Law
Adrian Lambert
Political independence
The “Patio of
the Lions”- Part
of the Alhambra
Palace in
Granada, Spain,
which is a
testament to
Islamic
Sovereignty in
that region.
“The Alhambra: Patio of the Lions (Patio de los Leones)”, Granada Spain, 2005,
<http://www.bluffton.edu/~sullivanm/spain/granada/alhambra/alhambralioncourt.html > (May 9, 2013)
Politics & Government/Law
Adrian Lambert
Laws For Tolerance
Front of the Jewish Synagogue
in Cordova, Spain.
“Synagogues in Spain: Cordoba”, Kosher Delight, n.d.,
<http://www.kosherdelight.com/SpainSynagoguesC
ordoba.htm> (May 9, 2013)
“Beatus
Apocalypses”:
Mozerabic art
featuring St.
Luke, taken
from the Gerona
Cathedral.
“Beatus Apocalypses”, Encyclopaedia Britannica, n.d.,
<http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/media/30264/St-Lukeilluminated-page-from-the-Beatus-Apocalypse-Mozarabic-975> (May 9,
2013)
Economics
Caroline Wesley
Trade
An ivory casket
such as this one
would have
been a common
exported luxury
item. This one
was created in
the 11th century,
during the
Golden Age, in
Cordoba, Spain.
Walter B. Denny, “Islamic Art Photographs”, University of Washington Digital Collections, n.d.,
< http://content.lib.washington.edu/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/dia&CISOPTR=8549> (May 9, 2013).
Economics
Caroline Wesley
Monetary System
Pictured :
90. Dirham (100910 CE)
91. Dirham (90405 CE)
92. Dinar (10151016 CE)
93. Dinar (1099
CE). A stable
currency was
essential to the
economic
prosperity of
Islamic Spain.
“Calligraphy on Islamic Coins”, Islamic Arts & Architecture, April 25, 2012,
< http://islamic-arts.org/2012/calligraphy-on-islamic-coins/ > (May 9, 2013).
Technology & Infrastructure
Emma Coker
Information panel:
Technology & Infrastructure
The Alhambra Palace is the best known monument and finest
surviving palace of Muslim Spain. It is still standing and once
had houses, shops, workshops, mosques and baths. The
majority of the palace was built by Nasrids(1333-1354).
Another famous infrastructure from Islamic Spain is the Great
Mosque at Cordoba and building began in 784 and ended in
786. Every Arab town in Spain had one major mosque where
male members were expected to pray every Friday. The Great
Mosque was built on a Visigoth site dedicated to St. Vincent
which was also the site of an earlier Roman Temple. It was
built during the reign of Abd Al-Rahman I and has become
the largest and most sacred structure of Islam. It followed
tradition of the mosques in Syria and Iraq and was expanded
by later rulers. In 1236, Cordoba was conquered by
Ferdinand III, the king of Castile who consecrated the mosque
into the city’s cathedral.
Technology & Infrastructure
Emma Coker
The alhambra palace
This is a picture of the Tower of
Justice, which is the original
entry into the Alhambra Palace.
It was built by Yusuf I in 1348
and is still the main entrance.
1. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. "File:Alhambra Gatehouse.jpg." May 9,
2013. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Alhambra_Gatehouse.jpg.
Technology & Infrastructure
Emma Coker
The great mosque at cordoba
This is a photo of The
Hypostyle Hall in the
Great Mosque at
Cordoba. It was built
in 786 but was
expanded throughout
the 9th and 10th
century. Ancient
Roman columns were
used during
construction.
2) Smarthistory: a multimedia web-book about art and art history. "The Great Mosque of Cordoba Smarthistory."May 9, 2013. http://smarthistory.khanacademy.org/the-great-mosque-of-cordoba-spain.html.
Social Structure
Leah Sack
Information Panel:
Social Structure
Islamic Spain, particularly through the “Golden Age” was a period of great
religious tolerance. Within Spain were Muslims, Christians and Jews. These
religions co-existed and benefited from the presence of each other. This was
an exceptional change from before the Islamic rule in which Christianity
was the dominant religion accepted. Upon taking over Spain, which was
previously Christian, the Muslims became the elites and ruled. However,
they provided a “dhimmi” status for Christian and Jewish people who were
under them in the social hierarchy. This status provided them with care
through legal protection. Religions other than Islam were respected and
given a high degree of autonomy. Although due to the nature of proximity
of religions, Christians adapted Muslim culture and language. Jews and
Christians were not forced to change their religion and assimilate to Islam.
There was a typical class structure with an aristocratic upper class, the
Muslims, at the top of the hierarchy. Below them was an upper middle class
made up of Berbers and Arabs. In the lower middle class were Christians
and Jews. At the bottom of the social hierarchy was a large slave group of
black captives and mercenaries.
Social Structure
33:50 "Prophet, We
have made
lawful to you
the wives to
whom you
have granted
dowries and
the slave girls
whom God
has given you
as booty."
Leah Sack
This quote is found in the Quran,
the holy book of the Muslims, from
which they derive teachings. This
describes the belief, followed in
Islamic Spain, that taking slaves in
war was considered a God-given
right.
Silas. "Slavery in Islam." Answering Islam, A Christian-Muslim Dialog and Apologetic. http://www.answeringislam.org/Silas/slavery.htm (accessed May 8, 2013).
Social Structure
Leah Sack
This is a legal
document
recognizing the
policy of tolerance
in Islamic Spain. In
this legal
document it is
stated that
Christians and
Jews were allowed
to freely practice
their religion.
Landis , Dennis. "JCBL_Exhibitions." Brown University.
http://www.brown.edu/Facilities/John_Carter_Brown_Library/islam/pages/spain.html (accessed May 8, 2013).
Women
Lina Han
Information Panel:
Women
In Islamic Spain, the principle that women are subordinate to
men was not unique; however, women still underwent great
changes from previous civilizations. It being rather a tolerant
civilization for women, they actively participated in political
and cultural affairs, shaped the cosmopolitan civilization, and
partook in leadership opportunities. Additionally, this was a
period where women gained a degree of independence.
Unlike women in the pre-Islamic civilization, divorces were
granted to women, and marriage became a contract between a
man and a woman instead of between a man and the
woman’s male guardian. However, many aspects of their lives
were still a continuation from previous eras: it remained a
patriarchal society, and punishments were harsher and more
strictly enforced for women. Essentially, Islamic Spain was a
civilization that accepted changes while also retaining certain
aspects from the past to maintain tradition.
Women
Lina Han
Role And Status Of women
“Men have authority over women because God has made the
one superior to the other, and because they spend their
wealth to maintain them. Good women are obedient… As for
those from whom you fear disobedience, admonish them and
send them to beds and beat them…”
Qur’an 4:34-35
This is the Islamic religious
book that everything was
centered around. It outlines the
roles and expectations of
women in comparison to men.
These verses from the Qur’an demonstrates
women’s status and the society’s views
toward them
The Qur’an- Islamic Civilization, 2008,
http://www.pgmamd.org/j15/index.php?option=c
om_content&view=article&id=50&Itemid=58, (May
7th, 2013).
The Qur’an, 2005,
http://www.cie.ugent.be/bogaert/bogaert4.htm, (May 7th,
2013).
Women
Lina Han
Education of girls
A painting showing a
polygamous marriage, as
well as the wives’
children
The Islamic Civilization: Polygamy, weddings, marriage contracts, and divorce, 2002,
http://www.cie.ugent.be/bogaert/bogaert4.htm, (May 7th, 2013).
ISLAMIC SPAIN
An Empire Centered on
Tolerance and Independence