OUR HISTORY

Germans tribes (North of Europe) fought against The Romans for the control of

the Iberian Peninsula.

In 400A.D, the Visigoth founded a kingdom with Toledo as its capital.

The most important kings were Liuvigild, Recarred and Recceswinth.

They adopted Latin, laws and Catholic religion.

They were experts in jewellery.

The Visigoth kingdom

THE MOORISH CONQUEST

In 711 A.D an army of Moors arrived from Africa and won the Visigoth kingdom.

They conquered the whole of the Peninsula and Balearic Islands.

The Moorish called this territory Al-Andalus with capital in Cordoba.

AL-ANDALUSFirst, Al-Andalus was an EMIRATE = a province which depended on the Caliph of Damascus.

In 756, Abd-ar-Rahman I proclaimed himself an independent EMIR.

In 929, Abd-ar-Rahman III established the CALIPHATE of Cordoba until 1031.

Al-Andalus made great conquest thanks to ALMANZOR, the most important Moorish soldier.

CORDOBA was the most important cities of the time, densely-populated with big markets (Zocos).

THE CHRISTIAN KINGDOMS

The Christians who lived in the North, put up strong resistance against the Moorish.

In Cantabria (722) they founded the kingdom of Asturias but in 910 A.D they transferred the capital to Leon and change the name to kingdom of Leon.

In the Pyrennes, they created: The kingdom of Navarre, the Kingdom of Aragon and the Catalan Counties.

They fought against Al-Andalus 8 centuries. The kingdom of Navarre was The

most important kingdom in the Christian area.

The Christians traded and learnt some Moorish customs.

TIMELINE

YEAR 409

VISIGOTS AL-ANDALUSCHRISTIAN KINGDOMS

YEAR 711YEAR 1492

Germanic tribe which won the

Roman Empire

An army of Moors invadedThe Visigoth Kingdom.

They conquered almost the whole

Of the Peninsula an Balearic Islands

This territory was called Al-Andalus

ALMANZOR

The Christians in the northput up strong resistance

They organised the Peninsula

into kingdoms and counties.

PELAYO

8 Centuries

The most important was the Kingdom of Navarre

TOLEDO

CAPITAL:CORDOBA

LIFE IN AL-ANDALUS

SOCIETY

The Moors were tolerants with the different religions and customs (Christians and Jews).

Al-Andalus society was diverse, made up people of different religions

The Moorish conquerors (the most powerful groups: government and lands)

The Muladi (Christians converted the Muslim religion) who don't pay taxes.

The Mozarabs were Catholic who continued to practise their religion.

. The Jews lived in districts separated from the other

inhabitants.

CITIES

Walled cities with narrow streets.

The MEDINA was the main part where the most important buildings were situated.

The MOSQUE was the religious building to pray.

The SOUQ was the market.

Cultivated lands surrounded the city.

The Moors were craftsmen and merchants.They were experts at working silk, metals, leather, pottery.

They made products in their workshop and sold them.

They were good farmers and built water-wheels and invented irrigation

channels.

ART and CULTURE

The Moorish built amazing buildings in Al-Andalus.

-Poor and not durable materials such as plaster and brick.-The walls were highly decorated to look magnificent. -Buildings were supported by many inside columns.-Buildings were topped by arches: horseshoe-shaped, round and pointed.

-There were fountains, pools and waterfalls in all the buildings.

-From the 10th century, Al-Andalus became an important cultural centre: doctors, writers, astronomers, mathematicians, philosophers (Averroes and Maimonides).

-Spanish culture conserved many influences: words, names, food and buildings.

DIFFERENT ARCHS AND BUILDINGS