Islamic Spain
Over the course of history, there have been many religious conflicts and wars, specifically the era of Islamic Spain (711-1492). Islamic Spain was a multi-cultural mix between the three great religions at that time, which consisted of Muslims, Christians, and Jews. For over 700 years, the era in which Islamic rulers governed was broken into five different successions which consisted of the Dependant Emirate (711-756), the Independent Emirate (756-929), the Caliphate (929-1031), the Almoravid Era (929-1031), and finally the Decline (1031-1492). The history of the Muslim Spain is a very controversial one, but the story with the most evidence is as follows. In the year 711 a Christian chief, Julian, was seeking help from Musa Ibn Nusair, who
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was at that time the emperor of North Africa, in order to defeat the Visigoth ruler of Spain, Roderick. Even though Musa accepted, his intentions was not what Julian would have hoped for. Musa sent his trusted general Tariq along with 7000 troops which led to conquering and defeating the Visigoth army with ease. By 720 Spain was largely under Muslim control. The decline of Muslim Spain was not due to the aggression of the Christian forces, but it was rather because of the Muslim rulers, themselves, who became corrupt. Such corruption led them to lose control in 1106, and finally completely fall in 1492. After the end of Islamic Spain, the Christians imposed harsher restrictions on Spanish Muslims, and repeated history. Although religion divided the three great faiths during the time of Islamic Spain, much was contributed to society, as well as the translation of Greek literature which was the accomplishment of the Muslim philosophers. During the time of Islamic Spain many of the Christians and Jews did in fact have rights as citizens. They were not forced to live in a certain area, they were not treated as salves, they were not restricted from following their faith, they were not forced to convert or punished if they did not do so, and they were not restricted from doing the same work as any Muslim would from working in a butchery to working at banks. Although they had all these rights, Christians and Jews were still restricted and looked down upon by Muslims. The gap between the three faiths created a great amount of separation between the people and also created a hierarchy with one being better than the other. At the top were the Arabs, and at the bottom the Christian and Jews. The restrictions that were laid down for the Christians and Jews would in modern time, be unreasonable and absolutely absurd. They had to acknowledge Islamic superiority, pay a tax called the Jizya, comply with rules set down by authorities such as dressing appropriately, and prevented from building churches. The Christians and Jews were often viewed as a “dhimmi” and lived in a state of “dhimmitude”. A dhimmi is a non-Muslim living in a Muslim state but does not have the same rights as a Muslim living in the same state. Many Islamic rulers did not tolerate the Christians and Jews and forced greater restrictions on them, such as, giving Muslims the right of way on the street, and not being able to have houses taller than that of a Muslims. Thus, these restrictions and terms used created an even more divided gap between the three faiths with the idea of one being “right” and other being “wrong”. Islamic Spain is often referred to as the “Golden Age”.
Many of the Muslims, Christians, and Jews did get along with each other and benefit from each other’s presence. During the time period of 756-1031, there was very much going on. The country flourished with libraries, colleges, universities, architecture, literature, poetry, and much more. Many Christians and Jews did contribute to building such society and live within that society. There was much stability during that time, and many accepted what the Muslims had to offer. One particular reason to the Muslims success is the fact that they offered very generous surrender terms, which when compared to previous rulers looked better and not harsh at all. These terms shaped the society in which everyone got along with one another, and in the long term, produced things that till this day still exists such as the “La Mezquita” which is now a cathedral but was once a Mosque, the name literally means “The Mosque”. The golden age era is the result of the establishment of “Andalusian Umayyad dynast” which lasted from 756-1031. The credit for the golden age establishment goes to Amir Abd al-Rahman, who was able to bring the various Muslim groups who conquered Spain to come together and unite. During the 10th century, Cordoba, which was the capital of Umayyad Spain was the wealthiest and most civilized in both the east and west. During the phase of the golden age, Cordoba had over half a million citizens, with paved streets and many houses. The golden age was a time of stability, learning, and flourishment in the medieval
era. During Islamic Spain there were many philosophers who contributed so much to the modern world. For instance, Averroes, also known as Ibn Rushd, was an influential Islamic philosopher who mixed Islamic traditions with Greek thought. He studied many subjects regarding religion as he started philosophy, he began by studying “Hadith” which was a collection of traditions containing sayings of the prophet Muhammad that, with accounts of his daily practice (the Sunna), constitute the major source of guidance for Muslims apart from the Koran. Averroes also accomplished one of the greatest things to happen for the upcoming centuries after Islamic Spain. Averroes translated many of Aristotle’s works, as well as Plato’s works. This had influence on both the Islamic world as well as the European world. Averroes also wrote many philosophical works for instance the “Decisive Treaties” and “The Incoherence of the Incoherence”. Although religion imposed rules, many philosophers did come together and produce information to be used centuries after, and that is why it is referred to as the Golden Age. In conclusion, the era of Islamic Spain was an era of both good and bad, but based on historical evidence it has done more good than bad. Many of the Christians and Jews of that time found themselves being restricted, but they had more freedom then they can dream for compared to previous Visigoth rulers. Islamic Spain flourished and was one of the greatest Muslim civilization with so much history and learning going on. Even though religion created a hierarchy between the people in which Muslims had more rights than Christians and Jews, they all interacted with each other and created a great society. Near the end, many philosophers made great accomplishments, which during the next centuries to come, were used by the Islamic world as well as the European world. The Islamic Spain era was one the greatest nations of history, much was learned, and much was taught even if religion did create a division between the people. As a result religion divided the three great faiths during the time of Islamic Spain, much was contributed to society, as well as the translation of Greek literature which was the accomplishment of the Muslim philosophers.
was at that time the emperor of North Africa, in order to defeat the Visigoth ruler of Spain, Roderick. Even though Musa accepted, his intentions was not what Julian would have hoped for. Musa sent his trusted general Tariq along with 7000 troops which led to conquering and defeating the Visigoth army with ease. By 720 Spain was largely under Muslim control. The decline of Muslim Spain was not due to the aggression of the Christian forces, but it was rather because of the Muslim rulers, themselves, who became corrupt. Such corruption led them to lose control in 1106, and finally completely fall in 1492. After the end of Islamic Spain, the Christians imposed harsher restrictions on Spanish Muslims, and repeated history. Although religion divided the three great faiths during the time of Islamic Spain, much was contributed to society, as well as the translation of Greek literature which was the accomplishment of the Muslim philosophers. During the time of Islamic Spain many of the Christians and Jews did in fact have rights as citizens. They were not forced to live in a certain area, they were not treated as salves, they were not restricted from following their faith, they were not forced to convert or punished if they did not do so, and they were not restricted from doing the same work as any Muslim would from working in a butchery to working at banks. Although they had all these rights, Christians and Jews were still restricted and looked down upon by Muslims. The gap between the three faiths created a great amount of separation between the people and also created a hierarchy with one being better than the other. At the top were the Arabs, and at the bottom the Christian and Jews. The restrictions that were laid down for the Christians and Jews would in modern time, be unreasonable and absolutely absurd. They had to acknowledge Islamic superiority, pay a tax called the Jizya, comply with rules set down by authorities such as dressing appropriately, and prevented from building churches. The Christians and Jews were often viewed as a “dhimmi” and lived in a state of “dhimmitude”. A dhimmi is a non-Muslim living in a Muslim state but does not have the same rights as a Muslim living in the same state. Many Islamic rulers did not tolerate the Christians and Jews and forced greater restrictions on them, such as, giving Muslims the right of way on the street, and not being able to have houses taller than that of a Muslims. Thus, these restrictions and terms used created an even more divided gap between the three faiths with the idea of one being “right” and other being “wrong”. Islamic Spain is often referred to as the “Golden Age”.
Many of the Muslims, Christians, and Jews did get along with each other and benefit from each other’s presence. During the time period of 756-1031, there was very much going on. The country flourished with libraries, colleges, universities, architecture, literature, poetry, and much more. Many Christians and Jews did contribute to building such society and live within that society. There was much stability during that time, and many accepted what the Muslims had to offer. One particular reason to the Muslims success is the fact that they offered very generous surrender terms, which when compared to previous rulers looked better and not harsh at all. These terms shaped the society in which everyone got along with one another, and in the long term, produced things that till this day still exists such as the “La Mezquita” which is now a cathedral but was once a Mosque, the name literally means “The Mosque”. The golden age era is the result of the establishment of “Andalusian Umayyad dynast” which lasted from 756-1031. The credit for the golden age establishment goes to Amir Abd al-Rahman, who was able to bring the various Muslim groups who conquered Spain to come together and unite. During the 10th century, Cordoba, which was the capital of Umayyad Spain was the wealthiest and most civilized in both the east and west. During the phase of the golden age, Cordoba had over half a million citizens, with paved streets and many houses. The golden age was a time of stability, learning, and flourishment in the medieval
era. During Islamic Spain there were many philosophers who contributed so much to the modern world. For instance, Averroes, also known as Ibn Rushd, was an influential Islamic philosopher who mixed Islamic traditions with Greek thought. He studied many subjects regarding religion as he started philosophy, he began by studying “Hadith” which was a collection of traditions containing sayings of the prophet Muhammad that, with accounts of his daily practice (the Sunna), constitute the major source of guidance for Muslims apart from the Koran. Averroes also accomplished one of the greatest things to happen for the upcoming centuries after Islamic Spain. Averroes translated many of Aristotle’s works, as well as Plato’s works. This had influence on both the Islamic world as well as the European world. Averroes also wrote many philosophical works for instance the “Decisive Treaties” and “The Incoherence of the Incoherence”. Although religion imposed rules, many philosophers did come together and produce information to be used centuries after, and that is why it is referred to as the Golden Age. In conclusion, the era of Islamic Spain was an era of both good and bad, but based on historical evidence it has done more good than bad. Many of the Christians and Jews of that time found themselves being restricted, but they had more freedom then they can dream for compared to previous Visigoth rulers. Islamic Spain flourished and was one of the greatest Muslim civilization with so much history and learning going on. Even though religion created a hierarchy between the people in which Muslims had more rights than Christians and Jews, they all interacted with each other and created a great society. Near the end, many philosophers made great accomplishments, which during the next centuries to come, were used by the Islamic world as well as the European world. The Islamic Spain era was one the greatest nations of history, much was learned, and much was taught even if religion did create a division between the people. As a result religion divided the three great faiths during the time of Islamic Spain, much was contributed to society, as well as the translation of Greek literature which was the accomplishment of the Muslim philosophers.