I SLAMIC S PAIN An Empire Centered on Tolerance and Independence.

ISLAMIC SPAINAn Empire Centered on

Tolerance and Independence

Themes

ToleranceIndependence

Geographical overview

Caroline Wesley

“Early Islamic Expansion”, The Rise of Islam, n.d., < http://www.clas.ufl.edu/users/sterk/ImagesLA/Images12.9.htm > (May 9, 2013).

Historical overviewThe 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 Independent Emirate (756-929): Abd Al-Rahman established the Umayyad dynasty with its capital at Cordova.•The Caliphate (929-1031): Time of the Caliphate of Cordoba. “La Reconquista” of Al Andalus begins, with 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.

The Golden Age (756-1031): time of great scientific, cultural, and political developments.

Adrian Lambert & Leah Sack

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.

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The Dangers of Allah: The Written Text at the Time of the Prophet Muhammad2013,

http://actforamerica.wordpress.com/2011/09/19/the-written-text-at-the-time-of-the-prophet-muhammad/ (May 9, 2013)

Theo DemasOrganized System of Belief

Islam in IberiaTheo DemasOrganized System of

Belief

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)

IslamTheo DemasOrganized System of

Belief

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-letters-various-kings (May 9, 2013)

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 9th 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.

Adrian LambertPolitics & Government/Law

Political independence

Politics & Government/Law Adrian Lambert

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)

Laws For TolerancePolitics & Government/Law Adrian Lambert

“Beatus Apocalypses”: Mozerabic art featuring St. Luke, taken from the Gerona Cathedral.Front of the Jewish

Synagogue in Cordova, Spain.

“Synagogues in Spain: Cordoba”, Kosher Delight, n.d., <http://www.kosherdelight.com/SpainSynagoguesCordoba.htm> (May 9, 2013)

“Beatus Apocalypses”, Encyclopaedia Britannica, n.d., <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/media/30264/St-Luke-illuminated-page-from-the-Beatus-Apocalypse-Mozarabic-975> (May 9, 2013)

Trade

Caroline WesleyEconomics

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).

Monetary System

Caroline WesleyEconomics

Pictured : 90. Dirham (1009-10 CE)91. Dirham (904-05 CE)92. Dinar (1015-1016 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).

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.

Emma CokerTechnology & Infrastructure

The alhambra palace

Emma CokerTechnology & Infrastructure

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.

The great mosque at cordoba

Emma CokerTechnology & Infrastructure

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.

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.

Leah SackSocial 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 SackSocial Structure

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.answering-islam.org/Silas/slavery.htm (accessed May 8, 2013).

Leah SackSocial Structure

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).

Information Panel: Women

Lina HanWomen

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

“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 4:34-35This 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=com_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).

Role And Status Of women

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 SPAINAn Empire Centered on

Tolerance and Independence