Islam in the Iberian Peninsula
When did the Muslim conquest begin? What was the battle?
711, Battle of Guadalete.
What were the responsibilities and powers of the emirs and caliphs?
All political authority, ran the administration, dictated foreign policy, rules the army, administered justice, held religious power.
What were the different religious groups in al-Andalus?
Islam, Christianity, and Judaism.
What was the original Cantabrian Kingdom?
The Kingdom of Asturias.
What did resettlement mean in the Christian Kingdoms?
Installing new populations and cultivating the land taken from the Muslims.
Between 711-756 Al Andalus was a province of
The Muslim Empire
What was the basis of the economy?
Agriculture.
What was one of the most important celebrations for Islamic Spain?
Ramadan and the Feast of the Sacrifice.
What was the Reconquista?
The ongoing struggle with the Muslims.
Why did they use the system of presura (freely giving land along the border of al-Andalus)?
Because the border area was very dangerous.
Why was it relatively easy to occupy/ take over the peninsula?
The Muslim military was superior. Also there was a lot of internal conflicts within the Visigoths. Also, some Jews and Visigoths supported the Muslims in exchange for keeping their properties.
What were the economic activities of the cities?
Trade and crafts.
Why was chess a popular game?
Because it allowed people to practice military strategy.
What were the three Pyrenean groups?
Kingdom of Pamplona, The Aragonese Group, and The Catalan Counties.
What was the basis of the economy?
Agricultural activities
What were some of the conflicts in al-Andalus between 755-929?
The christians in north took Zamora. The Franks conquered Barcelona and Girona and created the Spanish March (borderline province south of the Pyrenees). The Muladis (converts to Islam) felt discriminated by the Arab minority and revolted.
What did the Muslims do to improve their economy?
Extended irrigation (reservoirs, canals, wells, and waterwheels), improved land use (fertilisers, reduced fallow land), livestock farming, mining.
What was the most important artistic building?
Mosque of Cordoba.
What was the most significant event for the Kingdom of Pamplona?
The battle of Roncesvalles, where they defeated the Franks and expanded through la Rioja.
What were trade and crafts not as important to the economy?
Because there weren’t many cities.
What did Abd al-Rahman III do?
He proclaimed himself as the Caliph and broke away from the religious dependence on Baghdad. He reorganized the army, ended the internal revolts, and conducted punitive expeditions against the peninsular Christian kingdoms, who had to pay him taxes.
How was the administration of the territory organised?
Into provinces (coras) which had a capital and the surrounding territory. They had a governor and judges.
What were the two great schools of Art?
The Catalan School and the Castilian-Aragonese School.
Who were Sancho III three most important sons? What regions did they occupy?
Fernando I- Castilla and Leon, Garcia-Kingdom of Pamplona, Ramiro I-Aragon
Why was Santiago an important city?
Because of the rise of the pilgrimages.