Al-Andalus (Islamic Iberia)

By Nelis74
  • Period: 418 to 721

    Visigothic Kingdom

    After the fall of the Roman empire in Spain the Germanic Visigoths took control of most of the Iberian peninsula. Although it started out as a pagan state, it would later develop as a Chalcedonian Christian society where Christians would live in cities and more rural areas. A Jewish minority also lived in the cities.
  • Period: 661 to 750

    Ummayad Calphate

    After the first fitna and the fall of the Rashidun caliphate the Umayyads took over control of the Muslim community. They would eventually expand the Islamic caliphate by conquering Transoxiana, the Maghreb, and Al-Andalus. They would also establish relative freedom of religion, where people of other (monotheistic) believes would pay Dhimmi taxes. However, they would also develop a social hierarchy placing Arab Muslims over non-Arab Muslims which would eventually play a part in its demise.
  • Period: 711 to 717

    Ummayad expansion into Iberia

    Initially the Muslims were asked to help overthrow the Visigothic usurper Rodrick. Ṭāriq ibn Ziyād managed to defeat Rodrick, but pushed on, with reinforcements from Mūsā ibn Nuṣayr, to conquer the whole of the peninsula. By 717 they pushed past the Pyrenees and into Septamia. They would hold territory there untill 759.
  • Period: 717 to 740

    Umayyad Andalus

    During the reign of the Umayyads, the local population got mixed with the Muslim conquerors. This would lead to some conversion to Islam from the locals, however this was discouraged because non-Muslims (Dhimmis) would pay taxes. The ruling party did not want to miss out on these taxes. For paying these taxes, non-Muslims did enjoy a relative religious freedom.
  • 740

    Berber revolt

    In 740 the Berbers revolted and succeeded from the Umayyad caliphate.
    In reaction to this, the Arabs deposed their leader at the time and replaced him with his predecessor who was more popular with the Berber population. They did this because the Berbers far outnumbered the Arabs in Iberia and the feared the revolt would spread to Al-Andalus. After this revolt the Umayyads never regained full control over the western part of their caliphate. Even though they dispatched a large Syrian army there
  • 750

    Abbasid revolt & fall of the Umayyad caliphate

    In 750 the Abbasids revolted against the Umayyads because the non-Arab Muslims wanted equal rights like the Arabs.
    This revolt led to the overthrow of the Umayyad caliphate and the Abbasids would hunt down all Umayyads to execute them.
    Abd al-Rahman I managed to escape this and fled towards the Maghreb.
  • Period: 756 to 929

    Umayyad Emirate of Cordoba

    When Abd al-Rahman fled to the West he learned that Syrians in Al-Andalus were still quite loyal to him. With the force of Syrians he managed to conquer Cordoba which consequently became his new capital.
    Later he would conquer the rest of Al-Andalus and his successors would be the emirs of Cordoba until 929 when it became a caliphate.
  • Period: 789 to 856

    Life of Ziryab

    Ziryab was a Andalusian artist and polymath.
    He wrote about a range of topics including chess, music, and table manners. His presence is an example of cultural blossoming in Andalus.
  • Period: 912 to 961

    Abd al-Rahman III

    Abd al-Rahman III inherited power that did not stretch much further than the hinterlands of Cordoba. This was because many opposed the new centralized government of Abd al-Rahman II and rebelled. Much of his early reign he had to reunite the Iberian peninsula. The later part of his reign he mainly fought with the Christian kingdoms of Europe.
  • Period: 929 to 1031

    Caliphate of Cordoba

    The Caliphate of Cordoba was the third caliphate that arose during the decline of power of the Abbasid caliph.
    Abd al-Rahman decided that he could call himself caliph as response to the Shia Fatimid caliph and the at this point weak Sunni Abbasid caliph.
    During this period Andalus thrived culturally and economically.
    This also led to more centralization in Andalus.
  • Period: 994 to 1064

    Life of Ibn Hazm

    Ibn Hazm was an Andalusian polymath who wrote about love in his book "The ring of the dove" which has been translated many times and can still be bought. His presence is and example of cultural blossoming in Andalus.
  • Period: 1009 to 1031

    Downfall of the Cordoba Caliphate

    The downfall of the Cordoba Caliphate had several reasons.
    The first was that the Caliphate ran into financial problems because for a long time they had given land to soldiers in stead of pay. This later lead to a problem that much land did not have to pay taxes.
    The second problem was the civil war in the caliphate.
    The third problem was the rise of European kingdoms and the start of reconquista and crusades to Andalus.
    The combination of these events proved too much and the caliphate fell.
  • Period: 1031 to 1085

    Muluk al-Tawa'if

    After the fragmentation of the Caliphate of Cordoba, many small states appeared. Some of these states were Arab, others were Berber or Slavic. Some Muslim others Christian. A few of these states gained tremendous wealth because their income was not being shipped of to Cordoba anymore. This is why in this time culture could blossom in some of these states. (Ibn Hazn for example)
  • Period: 1040 to 1147

    Almoravid Empire

    The Almoravid movement started in the south of the Maghreb, where the population had only been converted for a short while, and moved upwards from there. They adhered to a very strict interpretation of Islam.
    Most of their military success came with Ibn Tashfin, who would conquer Marrakesh, Algiers, and parts of Andalus.
    Later under the son of Ibn Tashfin, the empire would become more unstable as they continued the discrimination of non-Arabs in Andalus, in contrast with their actions in Africa.
  • 1085

    The fall of Toledo

    The states of Leon and Aragon, who had campaigned against the Muluk al-Tawa'if captured the city of Toledo.
    This was a decisive moment for the Almovids to move into Iberia.
  • 1118

    Ibn Tumart returns from the Hajj

    In 1118 an important figure returns from Mecca and Baghdad. He has studies Islam and came back with plans of reform.
    His teachings are centered around the oneness of god and the rejection of Berber costumes. He also is for a more figurative interpretation of the Quran and is opposed to all four schools of Sunni Islam.
    This does not earn him favor with the Almoravids and he will eventually start his own empire.
  • 1121

    Ibn Tumart declares himself "Mahdi"

    In 1121 Ibn Tumart declares that he is the Mahdi (the ruler who will restore religion and justice) in order to unite Berber tribes through Islam.
  • Period: 1121 to 1269

    Almohad Caliphate

    The Almohad Caliphate was established in 1121 in the Atlas mountains. From there it conquered almost all Almoravid territory. The caliphate was never really at peace although most of the struggles happened at the outskirts of the Empire. The inner regions enjoyed relative peace and prosperity and saw the rise of some prominent thinkers.
  • Period: 1126 to 1198

    Life of Ibn Rushd (Averroes)

    Ibn Rushd was an Andalusian polymath that mastered the teachings of Aristotle and implemented these teachings in his views on Islam.