When the Moors Ruled Europe Name:
Moors - a member of a northwestern African Muslim people of mixed Berber and Arab descent. In the 8th century
they conquered the Iberian peninsula, but were driven out of their last stronghold at the end of the 15th century.
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Spanish Inquisition – a court established in Roman Catholic Spain in 1478 and directed originally against
converts from Judaism and Islam but later also against Protestants. $
Madrassa – a Muslim school, college, or university that is often part of a mosque.
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http://www.classzone.com/cz/books/ms_wh_survey/resources/images/chapter_maps/
Córdoba - Córdoba was probably Carthaginian in origin and was occupied by the Romans in 152 BCE. The
city flourished under their rule, though 20,000 of its inhabitants were massacred in 45 BCE by Julius Caesar for
having supported the sons of Pompey. Under Augustus, the city became the capital of the prosperous Roman
province, but declined under the rule of the Visigoths from the 6th to the early 8th century CE. In 711 Córdoba
was captured and largely destroyed by the Muslims, but was rebuilt by ʿAbd al-Raḥmān I, a family member of
the Umayyad rulers who accepted the leadership of the Spanish Muslims and made Córdoba his capital in 756
CE. He built the Great Mosque of Cordoba. Córdoba grew rapidly under Umayyad rule; and after ʿAbd alRaḥmān III proclaimed himself caliph of the West in 929 CE, it became the largest and probably the most
cultured city in Europe, with a population of some 100,000 in 1000 CE. Under Umayyad rule, Córdoba was
enlarged and filled with palaces and mosques. The city’s woven silks and elaborate brocades, leatherwork, and
jewelry were prized throughout Europe and the East. Later, it fell to King Ferdinand III in 1236 and became
part of Christian Spain.$
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Adapted from: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/137374/Cordoba
Introduction
Islamic culture often has been underrepresented in Western history; this documentary seeks to help viewers
understand the contributions and developments of the Muslims who ruled Spain for hundreds of years.
Building upon earlier scientists, philosophers, and mathematicians (Arabic numerals are easier to work with
than Roman numerals!), Muslims made significant contributions not only to math and science, but also to art,
architecture and literature. These achievements have had a lasting impact on European civilization, and
archaeologists continue to make new discoveries to help advance our understanding of Muslim contributions
to world history.$
1. What happened to Muslims and Muslim civilization during the Spanish inquisition? Give evidence from the
video.$
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2. The narrator makes the point that Muslims were interested not only in increasing territory as their empire
expanded; Umayyad rulers also sought to increase knowledge, believing that the Prophet Muhammad
urged others to seek knowledge. Explain how Muslim scholars built upon the scholarship of earlier
cultures.$
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3. The narrator makes the point that at the same time in Europe, Christian scholars often were more cautious.
Why were European scholars less likely to build upon the learning and scholarship of earlier cultures? Why
is this period of European history sometimes referred to as The Dark Ages?$
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4. ʿAbd al-Raḥmān III brought new technology to Cordoba, which at its time was one of the largest cities in
Europe. What were some of the interesting features of this city?$