The History of Islamic civilization in Andalusia

Posted by Isra Anwar

July 26, 2014

The History of Islamic civilization in Andalusia

Of the many history books we read and the information we have got, historians have noted many things about the development of Islamic civilization, especially the mid-8th century AD to the beginning of the 13th century AD The history of Islamic civilization has been recorded in history, that at the time Islam had experienced heyday. Islam's glory is shown by a variety of advances in many fields such as science, politics, economics, technology and many others. Advances that occur both in the East of the Islamic State (Abbasid Daula), based in Baghdad and Islam in the West (Umayyad Daula), based in Cordoba.

In the Umayyad caliphate which was about 90 years has achieved success expanding into various areas, both in the East and West with the Islamic empire that was really very broad. At the time of Caliph al-Walid ibn al-Malik, one of the caliphate of the Umayyads based in Damascus, Muslims began the conquest of the Iberian peninsula. Iberian Peninsula is the old name for the region of Spain and Portugal. Since the beginning of the 5th century AD (AD 406 years), the region occupied by Vandals nation, then called Vandalusia. However, since the year 711 AD, the Iberian peninsula and the south of France fell into the power of Islam, governed by Arabian princes and Barbarian. Since then, the region known as Andalusia.

Spain is the most important place and a golden bridge for Europe to absorb Islamic civilization and Islamic culture results, either in the form of political, social, economic, and civilization between countries. The people of Europe testify to the fact that Spain was under Islamic rule far beyond neighboring countries of Europe, especially in the realm of thought and science. European progress that continues to grow today owe a lot to the treasures of Islamic science that developed in the classical period.

The process of entry of Islam in Spain

Iberian Peninsula in Europe, which covers an area of Spain and Portugal region today, jutting into the southern end is only separated by a narrow strait with the tip of the African continent. Nation narrow strait called the old Grit was with Hercules poles and across the narrow strait that is located on the European continent. Along the narrow strait that separates reality amid a sea of the Atlantic ocean.

Iberian Peninsula, before it was conquered nation Visighots in 507 AD, Vandals occupied by the nation. It is precisely the area of their residence called Vandalusia. By changing the spelling and how to ring it, the Arabs in the Iberian peninsula later calling it with Andalusia.

Spain was occupied by the Muslims in the time of Caliph Al-Walid (705-715 AD), one of the caliphate of the Umayyads based in Damascus. Before the Spanish conquest, Muslims had taken control of North Africa and make it as one of the province of the Umayyad dynasty. Full mastery over North Africa took place in the time of Caliph Abdul Malik (685-705 AD). Caliph Abdul Malik bin lift Hasan al-Nu'man Ghassani become governor in that area. At the time of Caliph Al-Walid, Hasan ibn Nu'man ibn Musa has been replaced by Nushair. At the time of Al-walid, Musa bin Nushair expand its remit to the occupied territories of Algeria and Morocco. In addition, he perfected to the conquest of the former areas of the nation's power Barbarian in the mountains, so they claimed allegiance and pledged to create disturbances as they have done before.

In the process of conquest of Islamic Spain there are 3 heroes who led the troops there Tharif ibn Malik, Tariq ibn Ziyad and Musa ibn Nushair. However, which as pioneer and investigator arrival of Islam to Andalusia Tariq ibn Ziyad is. He who has led the army across the ocean Gibralta armies (Jabal Tariq) heading to the Iberian peninsula. Musa ibn Nushair in the year 711 AD, Islam sent troops under the leadership of Tariq ibn Ziyad who numbered only 7,000 troops and 5,000 additional personnel who are not comparable with armies Gothic army 100,000-strong armed complete. However, in the end, Tariq ibn Ziyad achieve victory by defeating King Foderick in Bakkah and conquering important cities such as Cordova, Granada, Toledo and to eventually control all important cities in Spain.

Islamic victories seen look so easy. Of course it is driven by factors well as figures of Islamic fighters and soldiers strong, compact and full of confidence and is also driven by the favorable factors that Islamic social, political and economic Spain were bad at that time.

Political Developments

At the time of the Umayyads (661-750 AD), based in Damascus fell in 132 H (750 AD) and was replaced by the Abbasids based in Baghdad. At that time there was a massacre as well as the pursuit of the remnants of the Umayyad family, there is an amir who escaped and survived the massacre, he was named Amir Abdurrahman bin Muawiyyah Malik bin Hisham ibn Abd al. He entered Egypt, Barca (Libya), and North Africa. During the fight for not less than six years, Abdurrahman successfully entered Andalusia. At first, the amir who hold power in Andalusia last 138 years ahead of H (756 AD) was a trustee Abdirrahman ibn Yusuf al-Fihri tribe Mudhari appointed by the Caliph in Damascus, with a typically 3 year tenure. But in 740an M, a civil war that led to the rule of Caliph. And in the year 746 AD, Yusuf al-Fihri won the civil war, became a ruler who is not tied to the government in Damascus. But in the year 756 AD, Abdurrahman Yusuf al-Fihri depose, and became rulers of Cordoba so that he was nicknamed "Abdurrahman Addakhil" with the Amir of Cordoba (Abdurrahman I). I can say that Abdurrahman was a "founding father" of the Umayyad Daula in Andalusia as well as the foundation stone of the cultural revival of Islam in Andalusia.