5th class: questions and answers

CONTENTS: PP. 31 TO 35
Until 929, Al Andalus, muslim Spain, was an emirate. What does that mean?
It means it was a province of the muslim empire, the Caliphate, first Ummayad in Damascus, then Abbasid in Bagdad. They depended on their regional capital, which was in Kairawan, northern Africa, and ultimately on the caliph, the spiritual and temporal muslim chief (TEXT 31 DOWN).
2. Why did the emirate become independent in 756?
Until then, dependence was political and religious, but the Ummayad dynasty was almost exterminated and substituted by the Abbasids in the Caliphate, changing the capital to Bagdad. The last Ummayad became emir of Al Andalus, dependent only in matters spiritual (Abderraman I).
3. How was it that by the beginning of the X century the emir only controlled Cordoba?
Weakening of central control (unrest in the frontier marks, powerful nobles, development of petty Christian kingdoms), and rebellions in the two mixed social groups (mozarabes, local folk who had remained Christians, and muladies when they had converted). The revolts of the arrabal or suburb in Cordoba (818) and the muladi Ben Hafsun in Bobastro, stand out.
4. What was the meaning of the assumption in 929 by Abderraman III of the title of Caliph, thus starting the most brilliant period in andalusian history?
He broke his relations with the caliph in Bagdad, thus becoming absolute ruler, in matters spiritual and also temporal.
5. State the reasons why the new western caliph had such huge success.
He centralized rule and broke the importance of muslim tribes by creating a mercenary army and a new aristocracy loyal only to him.
6. Name features showing the greatness of the Caliphate of Cordoba.
Expansion in northern Africa and relations with the eastern roman empire, Byzantium. Also,the building of the Codoba mosque and the palace of Medina Azahra.
7. What is the historical significance of Al Mansur?
He became the scourge of the Christians around the much feared 1000 AD (sacking of Santiago and Barcelona), dominating the army and administration, taking advantage of the caliph´s weakness.
TAIFAS.
8. Name some factors by which Al Mansur´s policies had grown to be a problem in the caliphate.
The cost of the army, the need for constant victories to balance the racial division among muslims (berbers, arabs, slavs).
9. What was the ultimate and very negative consequence of Al Mansur´s personalism?
One of his sons declared himself caliph. The disagreement of Berbers and Slavis brought Christians into the fight.
10. During the first third of the X century, he caliphate disintegrated. How was it replaced?
With petty taifa kingdoms (CONCEPT 33 UP, MAP 34 UP), created around a city.
11. Was racial structure visible on these taifa Kingdoms?
Muslim racial division could be seen on their distribution: slavs (Mediterranean), berbers (andalucia), arabs (andalucia, center and aragon).
12. This division didn’t mean cultural breakdown (IMAGE 33 DWN), but it did imply economic and military loss, why?
Because of the payment of parias to Christians (CONCEPT 33 UP). This weakened muslims and along the XI century, the frontier went down to the river Tajo, once the Christians conquered the visigothic capital, Toledo.
13. This weakening led to a new unification of Al Andalus. How and with what consequences?
The taifa kings called northern African almoravids to their aid. They controlled Al Andalus from Africa and they couldn’t avoid losing the river Ebro frontier. TEXT 34 UP.
14. Once the almoravids decayed, there were new Taifas and through the same process, there was a second invasion and unification. Who came? Distinguish them from the almoravids.
Almohads were religious fanatics and this time the political centre was local, Sevilla (IMG 34 DOWN).
15. The fight between Christians and almohads was really to the death. Summarize it and its consequences.
Almohads reacted strongly and got to occupy Baleares, but Christians united under the spirit of Crusade (Jerusalem had just been lost to muslims), defeated almohads in the battle of Las Navas de Tolosa (1212). There was a third cycle of Taifa kingdoms, but muslim spirit was broken and in the following years Christians made almost decisive conquests (Sevilla, Cordoba, Murcia).
Which was, then, the last Taifa? MAP P. 35 DOWN, TXT 35 DOWN
16. The kingdom of Granada, founded in the first half of the XIII century by the Nasr family.
17. Compare this kingdom with the caliphate of Cordoba.
Costly army, strong political centralization and internal noble strife, large population.The caliphate could start aggressive wars and its large population hadn’t migrated from other conquered muslim zones.