Al-Andalus: The Golden Age of Islam

Battle of Guadalete

Jul 19, 711

Tariq ibn Ziyad, a powerful Muslim military leader, crossed the Straight of Gibralter with an army of a few thousand in 711. The Visigoth, King Roderic, who was viewed as a tyrannical oppressor of religious beliefs, ruled Iberia at this time. After several small clashes, the Muslims met the majority of Roderic’s army on July 19. Tariq’s victory and Roderic’s death made this battle a pivotal event in Iberian history.

Muslims Rule All of Iberia

Jan 1, 718

As large as the Iberian peninsula is, it is hard to believe that the Muslims conquered it almost entirely in just a span of seven years. It makes more sense however when you look at what this meant for the people oppressed under Visigoth rule; they gained a just legal system, freedom to practice religion, and the end of oppressive taxes. In reality, it was an uprising of the people, aided by Muslims, against an oppressive Visigoth monarchy.

Battle of Tours

Oct 10, 732

Abd-ar-Raḥmān, the Muslim governor of Córdoba, invaded present-day southwestern France, defeating Eudes, the duke of Aquitaine. Eudes appealed to Charles Martel, the ruler of the Frankish (German) kingdoms. Abd-ar-Rahman was killed in the battle and the Arabs then retreated southward. This was a decisive battle in world history; after this defeat the Muslims never again tried to expand north and westward father into Europe. The exact date and even year is very disputed.

Mezquita de Cordoba (The Great Mosque of Cordoba)

Jan 1, 784

Construction of the mosque begins under the direction of Abd ar-Rahman I; it would take over 200 years to complete. One of the largest mosques in the world (second only to the Holy Mosque at Mecca), the Great Mosque is an impressive building, measuring approximately 590 x 425 ft, or about 250,000 sq. ft. There is no other building like it in the world, a Great Mosque and a Cathedral, in effect two different buildings representing two major religions, sharing the same space.

Zaryab Revolutionizes Music

Jan 1, 822

In 822, Zaryab was invited to work as Chief Entertainer at the court of Caliph Abd-Al-Rahman II at Cordoba. He revolutionized music, fashion, hairstyles and socialization. He was known for his melodious voice and introducing the lute to Europe. He taught harmony and reimagined musical theory, showing new ways of expressing music in written form. He is credited with the manufacture of glass and crystal for drinking rather than gold as well as the introduction of games such as chess and polo.

Building of Madinat al-Zahra Begins

Jan 1, 936

Seeking to separate the court from the noise and danger of the city of Cordoba, the Al-Hakam ruling party decided to build a separate city on the hilltop overlooking Cordoba. The city was lavish with running water, marble, gold, gardens and fountains. It held a palace as well as housing for dignitaries and workers. Much of the city was destroyed in 1010 during riots and the invasion of Christian kingdoms caused the city to be abandoned. It was rediscovered in 1911 under a meadow undisturbed.

Contribution of Caliph Al-Hakam II

Jan 1, 961

Under Al-Hakam’s rule, advancement flourished in the capital of Cordoba; completion of the Great Mosque, and an attached university boasting 4,000 students (the largest of its time), and a massive library are attributed to him. The library contained about 500k books (compared to library of St. Gall having only 36 books) and was a huge center for translation of works from Latin and Greek into Arabic. Sadly, after his death, the library was mostly burned and sold off by successor vizier al-Mansur.

Medical Advancement: Al-Tasrif Written

Jan 1, 1000

Al-Zahrawi, known as the "Father of surgery" completed the writing of Al-Tasrif, a 30 volume medical encyclopedia, around 1000 AD. It was used as a textbook and standard of reference for Islamic and European practice of medicine for 500 years. This work contains the earliest known reference to the disease hemophilia and dissolving stitches. The 30th volume, which included the descriptions of surgeries, instruments and new methods for operation, remained in print until the 1770s.

United Al-Andalus divides

Jan 1, 1032

The fall of the Caliphate of Cordoba ended the period of unity in Islamic Spain. After the fall of Hisham III, Al-Andalus breaks up into different taifas (or emirates). Islamic Spain is weakened from this point due to conflicts between the different emirates. Meanwhile, the Christian kingdoms in the north are beginning to unify and grow in power. About 50 years later, in 1085, the Islamic kingdom of Toledo is the first to fall to the Christian Reconquista (reconquest) of Spain.

Birth of Ibn Rushd (Averroes)

Jan 1, 1126

One of the greatest scholars of his time, Chief Judge of Cordoba Ibn Rushd was born in 1126. He wrote many commentaries on medicine, law and zoology and related these sciences to the Qur’an. He wrote multiple commentaries for many works aiming to enlighten different audiences from the common man to the well-educated scholar. He is most well known for reviving the works of Aristotle and Plato that had been forgotten for nearly six centuries.

Birth of Moses Maimonides

Jan 1, 1135

One of the greatest Jewish scholars to ever live, Moses Maimonides was a Jewish philosopher, jurist and physician. His first major work, undertaken at the age of 23 and completed 10 years late, was a commentary on the Mishna or the collection of Jewish oral law. After fleeing persecution when political unrest plagued Cordoba and moving several times, Maimonides family settled in Egypt. There Maimonides worked practicing medicine as the sultan's personal physician and educating fellow physicians.

Fall of Cordoba

Jan 1, 1236

King Ferdinand III of Castile and Leon captured Cordoba from the Muslims in 1236. Seville would fall 10 years later to Christian forces. Of all the Christian rulers, he pushed the Muslim kingdoms farther south than any others. King Ferdinand III was granted Sainthood by the Catholic church in 1671.

The Black Plague Sweeps Europe for the First Time

Jan 1, 1348

The Black plague, or bubonic plague, sweep Europe after infected people and rats landed in Italy in 1348. Within two years around 2/3 of Europe’s population and livestock was killed by the epidemic. This lead to other problems such as food and clothing shortages as animals, and skilled workers and farmers perished from the disease. Oddly enough, the shortage of workers actually meant better pay and living conditions for the poor as landowners competed to maintain a workforce to farm the land.

Marriage of King Ferdinand II and Queen Isabella I

Oct 19, 1469

The Catholic marriage between King Ferdinand II and Queen Isabella I united the powerful Christian kingdoms of Aragon and Castile signaling the end of peaceful relations between the northern Christian kingdoms and the southern kingdoms of Islam.

The Spanish Inquisition Begins

Jan 1, 1480

The Monarchy of Ferdinand and Isabella establish the “Holy Inquisition” making the Christian Iberian peninsula deadly to any “heretics” of the Islamic, Jewish and non-Catholic Christians residing in under their rule. While this helped to strengthen their power, the Inquisition was know for using torturous and brutal methods. Before its end nearly 400 years later, the Inquisition would result in the loss of tens of thousands of lives and hundreds of thousands being expelled from Europe.

Civil War breaks out in Granada

Jan 1, 1483

The sultan’s son, Muhammad, lead a revolt supported by King Ferdinand II. This was a ploy on Ferdinand’s part in an effort to further weaken Granada. Muhammad was given arms and soldiers from the Christian Monarchs. This civil war tore apart the single remaining Islamic Kingdom as Muhammad fought against his family members for power. By the time Muhammad took power in 1490, all of the land surrounding the city had been seized by the expanding Christian forces.

Fall of Granada: The End of Islamic Spain

Jan 2, 1492

In a treaty signed in November 1491, Muhammad IX agrees to hand Granada to the armies of Ferdinand and Isabella. This was the last remaining Islamic city in the Iberian peninsula; its fall signaled the end of Islamic rule in Spain. For a few years religious freedom was honored, but eventually the crown of Spain ordered the Jews and Muslims residing there to convert to Christianity or be exiled (mostly to Northern Africa).

Christopher Columbus Sails from Spain

Aug 3, 1492

To give an idea of what other events were happening around this time, later the same year Al-Andalus officially fell to Spain, Christopher Columbus set sail. This was the beginning Christian Spain’s rise to status of world powerhouse.