When the moors ruled SpainWhen the moors ruled Spain

Taoufiq Cherkaoui

Moorish SpainMoorish SpainThe Moors built magnificent cities in Spain. Cordoba, in the tenth century was much like a modern metropolis. The streets were paved, and there were sidewalks for pedestrians. At night it was said that one could travel for ten miles by the light of lamps along a continuous strip of buildings. This was several hundred years before there was a paved street in Paris or a street lamp in London. The population of the city was over one million. There were 200,000 homes, 800 public schools, a number of colleges and universities, and many royal places surrounded by beautiful gardens. .

The Tanneries of Cordoba and Morocco City were the best in the

world. Cordoba was the most wonderful city of the tenth century. It

was served by 4,000 public markets and 5,000 mills. Public baths

numbered in the hundreds. This amenity was present at a time when

cleanliness in Europe was regarded as a sin.

Taoufiq Cherkaoui

When the moors ruled SpainWhen the moors ruled Spain

Education was universal in Moorish Spain, available to the most humble, while 99% of Christian Europe was illiterate—not even the kings could read or write. In the tenth and eleventh centuries, public libraries did not exist in Christian Europe, while Moorish Spain had more than seventy, of which the one in Cordoba contained over six hundred thousand manuscripts. There were more than seventeen great universities in Moorish Spain, while Europe had only two universities of any value. . Taoufiq Cherkaoui

When the moors ruled SpainWhen the moors ruled Spain

Finally, let me illustrate Muslim culture by a few lines from the historian James Burke about Córdoba in the 9th Century – ‘At a time when London was a tiny mud-hut village that could not boast of a single street lamp, in Córdoba there were half a million inhabitants, living in 113,000 houses. There were 700 mosques and 300 public baths spread throughout the city. The streets were paved and lit. The houses had marble balconies for summer and hot-air ducts under the mosaic floors for winter. They were adorned with gardens with artificial fountains and orchards. Paper, a material still unknown to the west, was everywhere. There were bookshops and more than seventy libraries.’Taoufiq Cherkaoui

When the moors ruled SpainWhen the moors ruled Spain

"My brothers, the enemy is before you, the sea is behind you.  Follow your general; I am resolved either to lose my life or to trample on the prostrate king of the Romans."

Taoufiq Cherkaoui

When the moors ruled SpainWhen the moors ruled Spain

The Spanish occupation by the Moors began in 711 AD when a Berber Muslim army, under their leader Tariq ibn-Ziyad, crossed the Strait of Gibraltar from Northern Africa and invaded the Iberian peninsula. Roderick, the last of the Visigoth kings of Spain, was defeated at the Battle of Río Barbate and by 719 AD the Moors had conquered the entire area from the coast to the Pyrenees

Moorish warrior

Taoufiq Cherkaoui

When the moors ruled SpainWhen the moors ruled Spain

In 711 A.D., General Tarik, accompanied by 100 horses and 400

African soldiers, crossed over into Spain on an exploratory mission.

Tarik's small army ravaged several Spanish towns and returned to

Africa laden with spoils. Later that same year, Tarik took an army of

7000 Africans, crossing from Africa to Gibraltar (named after him),

defeating King Roderic and conquering most of the Iberian

Peninsula. Thus began the Moorish domination of Spain, which was

not fully ended until 1492.

Taoufiq Cherkaoui

When the moors ruled SpainWhen the moors ruled SpainThe Moors built magnificent cities in Spain. Cordoba, in the tenth century was much like a modern metropolis. The streets were paved, and there were sidewalks for pedestrians. At night it was said that one could travel for ten miles by the light of lamps along a continuous strip of buildings. This was several hundred years before there was a paved street in Paris or a street lamp in London. The population of the city was over one million. There were 200,000 homes, 800 public schools, a number of colleges and universities, and many royal places surrounded by beautiful gardens. .

The Tanneries of Cordoba and Morocco City were the best in the

world. Cordoba was the most wonderful city of the tenth century. It

was served by 4,000 public markets and 5,000 mills. Public baths

numbered in the hundreds. This amenity was present at a time when

cleanliness in Christian Europe was regarded as a sin.

Taoufiq Cherkaoui

When the moors ruled SpainWhen the moors ruled Spain

Education was universal in Moorish Spain, available to the most humble, while 99% of Christian Europe was illiterate—not even the kings could read or write. In the tenth and eleventh centuries, public libraries did not exist in Christian Europe, while Moorish Spain had more than seventy, of which the one in Cordoba contained over six hundred thousand manuscripts. There were more than seventeen great universities in Moorish Spain, while Christian Europe had only two universities of any value. . Taoufiq Cherkaoui

Scientific progress in astronomy, chemistry, geography,

mathematics, physics, and philosophy flourished in Moorish Spain.

Scholars, artist and scientists formed learning societies, while

scientific congresses were organized to promote research and to

facilitate the spread of knowledge. A brisk intellectual life flourished

in all Islamic dominated societies.

The Moors also introduced the manufacture of gunpowder into Europe, which their enemies later adopted, using this explosive to drive them back to Africa.

Mezquita in Cordoba

Taoufiq Cherkaoui

When the moors ruled SpainWhen the moors ruled Spain

"Arab Spain nurtured scores of poets. Many of its rulers-- al-Mutamid and Abd-al-Rahman I, for instance--were poets in their own right," Professor Hagerty said. "Strict Islamic tradition discourages the making of 'graven images,' so painting and sculpture never flourished among the Moors. Instead they channeled creative energy into language. With its wealth of vocabulary, its sonorous sounds, its flowing calligraphy, Arabic is well suited to the task.

Taoufiq Cherkaoui

When the moors ruled SpainWhen the moors ruled Spain

The Moors left a lasting legacy for Spain – they did not simply occupy the country; as portrayed by some western historians, but were a real source of knowledge and development and helped plant the roots of the European Renaissance. Obviously the great palaces, castle and mosques of Moorish times are amongst Spain’s greatest tourist attractions – and rightly so – but also, pomegranates, oranges, lemons, aubergines, artichokes, cumin, coriander, bananas, almonds, saffron, sugar-cane, cotton, rice, figs, grapes, peaches and apricots were all introduced by the Moors. So too were the irrigation systems that enabled the dry plains to be efficiently farmed. So too were the narrow, labyrinthine street plans of many of the old towns. Even the flamenco itself has clear Islamic origins. The Spanish language is similarly full of words of Arabic origin – arroz (rice), alcalde(mayor), naranja(orange), azúcar(sugar) being just simple examples

Taoufiq Cherkaoui

When the moors ruled SpainWhen the moors ruled Spain

The marriage of Ferdinand and Isabella sealed the

The marriage of Ferdinand and Isabella sealed the fate of the faltering Granada sultans. Catholic Spain,

fate of the faltering Granada sultans. Catholic Spain, finally united, continued to force the Muslims toward

finally united, continued to force the Muslims toward the sea, town by town. In 1492, the same year they

the sea, town by town. In 1492, the same year they launched Christopher Columbus on his historic

launched Christopher Columbus on his historic voyage, Their Catholic Majesties rode into Granada

voyage, Their Catholic Majesties rode into Granada to preside over the abdication of the last Moorish

to preside over the abdication of the last Moorish ruler, Muhammad Abu-Abdullah--Boabdil, as the

ruler, Muhammad Abu-Abdullah--Boabdil, as the Spanish call him.Spanish call him.

Taoufiq Cherkaoui

When the Moors rules SpainWhen the Moors rules Spain

In 1085 AD the Spanish city of Toledo was reconquered In 1085 AD the Spanish city of Toledo was reconquered

by Christian crusaders. During the next hundred and fifty by Christian crusaders. During the next hundred and fifty

years, much of the accumulated Arab knowledge was years, much of the accumulated Arab knowledge was

translated making it available to the rest of western translated making it available to the rest of western

Europe.Europe.

Ironically, a lot of this knowledge could Ironically, a lot of this knowledge could have been available much earlier since have been available much earlier since in Toledo, Christians continued to thrive in Toledo, Christians continued to thrive even under Muslim occupation and were even under Muslim occupation and were in fact actively studying the Arab works.in fact actively studying the Arab works.

Their legacy perhaps enabled the revolution of EuropeTaoufiq Cherkaoui

When the moors ruled SpainWhen the moors ruled Spain

Finally, let me illustrate Muslim culture by a few lines from the historian James Burke about Córdoba in the 9th Century – ‘At a time when London was a tiny mud-hut village that could not boast of a single street lamp, in Córdoba there were half a million inhabitants, living in 113,000 houses. There were 700 mosques and 300 public baths spread throughout the city. The streets were paved and lit. The houses had marble balconies for summer and hot-air ducts under the mosaic floors for winter. They were adorned with gardens with artificial fountains and orchards. Paper, a material still unknown to the west, was everywhere. There were bookshops and more than seventy libraries.’Taoufiq Cherkaoui

When the Moors rules SpainWhen the Moors rules Spain

The Moorish civilization enlightened Europe and brought it out The Moorish civilization enlightened Europe and brought it out

of the dark ages to usher in the Renaissance period. The roots of the dark ages to usher in the Renaissance period. The roots

of European culture can be traced back to the Moors whose of European culture can be traced back to the Moors whose

civilization was not only artistic, scientific and commercial, but civilization was not only artistic, scientific and commercial, but

also incredibly tolerant of other races and cultures. Many of the also incredibly tolerant of other races and cultures. Many of the

Moors' cultural and intellectual influences are still in evidence Moors' cultural and intellectual influences are still in evidence

today. The Rock of Gibraltar owes its name to a man of valor, today. The Rock of Gibraltar owes its name to a man of valor,

Tarik ibn Zeyad, a man of extraordinary courage and a true Tarik ibn Zeyad, a man of extraordinary courage and a true

leader.leader.

Taoufiq Cherkaoui

Taoufiq Cherkaoui

When the Moors rules SpainWhen the Moors rules Spain

The Moorish civilization enlightened Europe and brought it out The Moorish civilization enlightened Europe and brought it out

of the dark ages to usher in the Renaissance period. The roots of the dark ages to usher in the Renaissance period. The roots

of European culture can be traced back to the Moors whose of European culture can be traced back to the Moors whose

civilization was not only artistic, scientific and commercial, but civilization was not only artistic, scientific and commercial, but

also incredibly tolerant of other races and cultures. Many of the also incredibly tolerant of other races and cultures. Many of the

Moors' cultural and intellectual influences are still in evidence Moors' cultural and intellectual influences are still in evidence

today. The Rock of Gibraltar owes its name to a man of valor, today. The Rock of Gibraltar owes its name to a man of valor,

Tarik ibn Zeyad, a man of extraordinary courage and a true Tarik ibn Zeyad, a man of extraordinary courage and a true

leader.leader.

Taoufiq Cherkaoui

When the moors ruled SpainWhen the moors ruled Spain

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-768956312207897325

Taoufiq Cherkaoui