Islamic Spain A Society of Tolerance

Migration Migration  Toledo derived from Hebrew term for exiles from 1st Century Diaspora  5th Century- Visigoths conquer Iberian Peninsula  Jewish populations in Granada, Seville, Toledo, Cordoba  Visigoths convert to Christianity (force conversion on Jews)  7th Century-Founding of Islam, migration and conquests-North Africa  711-Berbers invade Iberia

Foundation  732: Muslims and Jews support Al Andalus and leave Jewish garrisons to hold conquests  Christians and Jews are protected people (dhimmis), submit to Islamic authority, not threatened  Christians and Jews are taxed  Fighting between Arabs and Berbers  Abd al-Rahman, Umayyad prince, escaped Syria and unites populous against government

Foundation (continued)  Rakhman declares himself emir and Cordoba is the capital  Builds Mosque-Byzantine Archaic-  Founding of a new dynasty  1000-Flourishes-Largest City- Tolerance and accommodation-Trades with Vikings and Baghdad  East meets West850: Zaragoza converts to Christianity-civil wars throughout 800s

Unity  900:Cordoba-peace and prosperity-Caliphates and conflicts  912: Abd al-Rahman III declared caliph-unity-economic expansion- uses Christian and Jewish ambassadors  929: Monumental structures and infrastructure-Madinat al-Zahra – Sherbet with ice from Pyrenees  Otto I- meets Christian Andalusian Ambassadors-Gas Street Hghting- String of Pearls  Byzantine empire sends texts for translations  Poetry-public relations of the time  Largest Libraries- in Baghdad  Green Revolution-Water Wheel- Flourishing agriculture-gardens  Cordoba conquered and burned following death of AR III

Division  Fitna (time of strife)  Division and fracture of al-Andalus  1014: Ibn Nagrela, Jewish Scholar-Petty King wants splendor for Granada-works for vizier  Neck Ring of the Dove: Ibn Hazm, Comparative Book of Religions-Ibn Hazm  N. Taifa Kingdoms- seek Christian support for defense

Purification  1060: -Pope Alexander II- concerned by “sleeping with the enemy”  1066: Granada-Civil War- Anti Semitism-3000 to 4000 Jews Killed  1085: Reconquista Begins-Toledo recaptured by Alphonso III-Capital of Christian Visigoths  Accepts Toledo knowledge-became “Emperor of 2 religions”

Time of Strife (continued)  1091: Seville-seeks N. African Berbers' help  N. Africans steal power-burn books and persecute Christians- disgusted by Tolerance-lost hundreds of books  Almoravids migrate in from North Africa-then Almohads  1145: Jews and Christians flee Al Andalus because outlawed  Andalusians prefer Christian control  1148: Jews bring Islamic knowledge to Christian North  : Christian lands of opportunity for Jews-Christian Europe starts Crusades-impacts life in Spain-Purifying religions

Crossroads  Violent purification  1149: Refugees flee Almohads-Moses Maimonides- Sephardic Jew- Spain to Egypt-Saladin’s Egypt- Scholarship on Aristotle- Harmonizes with religion  Ibn Rushd (Averroes)-in Cordoba-Qadi-works on Aristotle for Islam  Similar to translated into Latin by Thomas Aquinas  12th century: Bishop in Toledo wants Translation-interfaith transition needed-plants seeds of Renaissance –Astrolabes used from Spain  Columbus used Muslim Navigators

Crossroads (continued)  1195: Alphonso III Fights Seville-Muslims win  1207: Pope proclaims Spain as crusader zone- due to east failure- Crusade in Spain instead  1212: Christians win against Muslims-Las Navas de Tolosa  Beginning of end of Al Andalus  1236: Capture Cordoba from Muslims-Mosque consecrated as Cathedral

Survival  Only Seville and Granada remain- Mohammad Ibn Nasir founds Nasrid  1245: Nasrid Granada- Last dynasty-silk and textile production- remains independent  Muslim craftsmen kept in Christian Kingdoms  Jews accepted in Christian centers for business acumen and administrators  1252: Alphonso X-Diminution of minorities-Establishes Law Code- Converts Death Castille and Leon- Allows Jewish and Muslim holy days-loves Arabic poetry

Survival (continued)  1348: Black Death sweeps Europe-violence against Jews-Bonfires-1/2 populations dies  1354: Granada Alhambra Built-Flourishes post plague  1360: Christian kings hire granadi workerss-lavish lifestyles  Granada thriving- multicultural-tributary state to Christian kings- 15th century flourishes

Loss  1453: Constantinople falls in East  1469: European Christians- Castille, Aragon and Leon united Ferdinand and Isabelle  Pope Authorizes Spanish Inquisitions-originally for lapsed Christians  Torquemada- Hammer of Spain- Grand Inquisitor  Last Chapter of Al Andalus  1492: Granada split with son of emir-uses Christian allies to fight father  Ferdinand and Isabelle tour Alhambra  Jews convert or expelled-end of Reconquista  1609: Muslim convert expelled from Spain