GEOGRAPHY AND RELIGION BY GISELLA RULLO, SAM SELTZER, ARCHIE CORPUZ, ARCHIE APOLINARIO, AND JUSTIN GOLANCZYK

AL- ANDALUS, MUSLIM SPAIN The people of Spain had a saying “la geographia manda,” which meant Geography controls everything. At the beginning of the middle ages almost everyone in Spain was Christian. Spain was ruled by the Visigoths. In 711 a Muslim force crossed the straight of Gibraltar and landed in Spain. Later many Christians converted to Islam.

LIFE AND SOCIETY Five centuries later Islam became one of the largest economic trade zones. Muslim rulers and rich merchants supported the arts: music, art, and architecture. Islamic beliefs show that they discourage showing human beings, animals and plants realistically because it may lead to idolatry which means worshipping idols.

CENTRES OF LEARNING Learning was greatly valued by the Muslims, as a way of understanding the universe. The first university was made in Cairo, in 971. Muslim scholars studied medicine and science.

RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE By the 1000s caliphate (which was the area of jurisdiction of Islamic rulers,) in Spain began to decline. Many ineffective rulers had led to civil unrest and the sectioning of al andaluz into a number of independent principalities. When the Muslims came to Spain, they had reduced the Christian controlled area to a narrow area along the northern coast. The Reconquista began as a way for the Christian kingdoms to expand their power and influence. The Spanish eventually became the deadliest fighting group.

POP QUIZ What does “ geographia manda” mean in Spanish? What is a caliphate? Who was the deadliest fighting group?

BIBLIOGRAPHY Worldviews contact and change by: Pearson education Canada (book)