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==Introduction==__NOTOC__[[File: Muslim Three.jpg|250px|thumbnail|left|A Muslim and a Christian warrior greeting from an illuminated manuscript]]One of the greatest periods of Islamic history was that of Muslim Spain or Al-Andalus, as it was known in Arabic. Muslim Spain was undoubtedly one of the great civilizations in the Medieval world World, and its culture influenced both Europe and the Arab world. Spain was conquered by the Muslims in the 9th century , and it is commonly held that they transformed Spanish society. For example, there are those who some argue that the Muslims changed the Spain's language, religion, and society of Spain. This article will discuss how in the early centuries of Islamic rule there was much continuity with the past in Spain in the early centuries of Islamic rule and that , at least initially , the Arabs did not drastically change Medieval Iberian society. It will demonstrate that there were many changes but also and many continuities after the Muslim invasion of Spain in the period from 720-900 AD. [[File: Muslim Three.jpg|200px|thumb|left|A Muslim and a Christian warrior greeting from an illuminated manuscript]]==Background to the Muslim invasion and conquest==Iberia (modern Spain and Portugal) had been occupied by Germanic invaders after the fall of the Roman Empire. The Visigoths emerged as the most powerful group and they established a kingdom that ruled all of Spain and Portugal except for the mountainous northern mountains. The Visigoths established a centralized administration and they became the dominant political and military elite in Iberian society <ref> Collins, Roger. The Conquest of Spain (John Wiley and Sons, New York, 1995), p. 67 </ref>. However, the kingdom was never stable and was constantly disturbed by civil wars which seriously weakened it by the start of the 8th century. This happened at the same time as the Arabs inspired by the Prophet Muhammad and their new religion had burst out of the Arabian Peninsula and had conquered much of the Byzantine Empire. By the early 8th century they had spread out across North Africa and after a long conflict had subdued the Berbers of North Africa. In 712 AD an Arab force landed near modern Gibraltar. It appears that it was initially a raid but soon became an all-out invasion <ref> Collins, p. 15 </ref>. The Arab invasion army was composed of Arabs from all over the Muslim world and recently converted Berber tribesmen. The Visigoth King Roderic advanced to meet the invasion army and he met them at the River Guadalete, which is believed to be in modern Granada. Roderic’s army outnumbered the Muslim forces but the Visigoths were decisively defeated, and the king was killed in the battle. This left the Visigoth Kingdom in disarray as without a monarch the highly centralized kingdom could not function. Furthermore, the Visigoths were disliked by their Roman-Hispanic subjects because of high taxation and religious differences. Various Visigoth warlords defended their territories in the Iberian Peninsula <ref> Collins, p. 13 </ref>. However, within a space of three years, the Muslims had conquered all of Iberia. The newly conquered territories were incorporated into the vast Umayyad Empire and were initially ruled by a governor based in North Africa. After the collapse of the Umayyad Empire, a member of the dynasty fled to Spain and he created a kingdom that was independent of the new Abbasid Empire. The Muslims formed a political and a military elite in the Peninsula. They were a minority in their new territory and most of the population were Christians, at least in the first centuries of their rule. There was also a large Jewish population in what is modern Spain and Portugal. The new Muslim state was not only home to several religions but was also home to several different ethnic groups. The Muslims were divided between Berbers and Arabs and there were often tensions between them that occasionally flared into civil war <ref>Marazin Guzman, Roberto. ‘Ethnic and social groups in Islamic Spain’ Islamic Studies, 30 (1991) 37-66 </ref>. The ruler of the Muslim state was a self-styled Emir and later Caliph and posed as the rival of the Abbasid Caliph in Baghdad. The Umayyad ruler was, in theory, an absolute monarch, in reality, he ruled over a feudal state where local had considerable autonomy. [[File: Muslim Spain One.jpg|200px|thumb|left|A Muslim and a Christian musician]]== Socio-Economic changes after the invasion==
Islamic ====Background to the Muslim invasion and conquest====[[File: Muslim Spain One.jpg|250px|thumbnail|left|A Muslim and a Christian musician]]Iberia (modern Spain was under and Portugal) had been occupied by Germanic invaders after the control fall of one religious the Roman Empire. The Visigoths emerged as the most powerful group, namely the Muslims, who and they established a kingdom that ruled Iberia in their own interests all of Spain and who frequently exploited Portugal except for the populationmountainous northern regions. Muslim Spain was, in fact, The Visigoths established a society that was dominated by a military elite. To maintain their positioncentralized administration, and they had to dominate became the other groups especially the majority Christian populationdominant political and military elite in Iberian society. They imposed a series of legal disabilities on Christians and Jews and both religions were denied all political rights <ref> Roth, NormanCollins, Roger. The Jews in the Muslim Conquest of Spain. Jewish Social Studies(John Wiley and Sons, 38New York, 21995), (1986) 145-158p. 67 </ref>. They were expected to pay a poll tax that However, the kingdom was used to support the Muslim army never stable and administration. It also seems that was constantly disturbed by civil wars, which seriously weakened it by the Arabs appropriated many start of the lands of Christians and they seemed to have taken over 8th century. This happened simultaneously as the vast estates of Arabs inspired by the Visigoths. The invasion saw a revolution of who owned the land in Iberian society. Christians were no longer privileged Prophet Muhammad and they were now subjects of a foreign ruling class who their new religion had a different religion. The Christian community was in many instances reduced to the status burst out of serfs. As the Muslims entered the local society they caused great disruption Arabian Peninsula and they destroyed an Iberian society that had been in large measure like that under Roman rule. Muslim rule brought a rapid change in Spanish society and no aspect conquered much of life was left untouched. The Muslims re-defined the relationships between the Christian and the Jews and the Peninsula became integrated into the Muslim Byzantine Empire. The Peninsula became part of the Muslim world politically and economically. This was to benefit By the Spanish economy enormously. The invaders introduced many new crops early 8th century, they had spread out across North Africa and advanced irrigation technologies. After Spain was integrated into the Muslim world, the Peninsula became part of after a large free trade bloc and as a resultlong conflict, there was a marked increase in trade. This led to an increase in wealth and lead to had subdued the growth Berbers of towns and citiesNorth Africa. Soon cities like Toledo were sprawling metropolis and they became major centers of cultureIn 712 AD, an Arab force landed near modern Gibraltar. One of the areas where there It appears that it was initially a rapid change was in the legal code. As in other societies that they conquered the Muslims imposed their own legal code. The traditional laws were overturned, and this impacted on every aspect of society. Before the Muslim conquest the law was structured to represent Christian values raid but now it reflected the conquerors' religion. The Christian’s were now classed as the Dhimmisoon became an all-out invasion. They enjoyed legal protection in the eyes of the law and their person and body were fully protected<ref> Bernard Lewis. History of the Middle East; a brief history of the last 2000 years (Touchstone Books, University of Michigan, 2008)Collins, p. 4515 </ref>. However, they were obliged to pay regular tribute to their Muslim overlords. The Arabs introduced a new language into the territories that they conquered, and Latin went into decline. Arabic became the official language, and this was the lingua franca of the bureaucracy and the army. This led to the emergence of a scribal class that was versed in Arabic and a culture that was decisively influenced by Islamic culture.
[[File: The Arab invasion army was composed of Arabs from all over the Muslim world and recently converted Berber tribesmen. The Visigoth King Roderic advanced to meet the invasion army, and he met them at the River Guadalete, which is believed to be in modern Granada. Roderic’s army outnumbered the Muslim Spain 2forces, but the Visigoths were decisively defeated, and the king was killed in the battle.jpg|200px|thumb|This left|Muslim soldiers from the Visigoth Kingdom in disarray, as without a monarch, the highly centralized kingdom could not function. Various Visigoth warlords defended their territories in the Iberian Peninsula <ref> Collins, p. 13 </ref>. However, within a space of three years, the Muslims had conquered all of Iberia. The newly conquered territories were incorporated into the vast Umayyad Empire and were initially ruled by a Spanish Medieval manuscript]]governor based in North Africa.
==Continuities after After the collapse of the Muslim Invasion==Some historians argue that over time there was Umayyad Empire, a blurring member of the distinctions between Umayyad dynasty fled to Spain, and he created a kingdom that was independent of the three main religious groups and this produced ultimately new Abbasid Empire. The Muslims formed a tolerant political and pluralistic societymilitary elite in the Peninsula. Many revisionist historians have criticized this as They were a myth. Howeverminority in their new territory, there is some agreement on and most of the fact that population were Christians, at least in the immediate aftermath first centuries of the conquest, there were ‘obvious differences between conquerors their rule. There was also a large Jewish population in what is modern Spain and conquered Portugal. The new Muslim state was home to several religions and was also home to several different ethnic groups. The Muslims were divided between Berbers and non-Muslims’ Arabs, and there were often tensions between them that occasionally flared into civil war <ref> CollinsMarazin Guzman, pRoberto. 56‘Ethnic and social groups in Islamic Spain’ Islamic Studies, 30 (1991) 37-66 </ref>. There was The ruler of the Muslim state was a self-styled Emir and later Caliph and posed as a result little interaction between the various communitiesrival of the Abbasid Caliph in Baghdad. The invaders did not influence their new subjectsUmayyad ruler was, at first because they lived in separate military settlements or ‘cantonments’ <ref> Collinstheory, pan absolute monarch. 57 </ref>In reality, he ruled over a feudal state where locals had considerable autonomy. The three main religious groups in Islamic Spain were reluctant to enter marriages that could lead to assimilation and the loss of their religious and ethnic identity ====Socio-Economic changes after the invasion====[[File: Muslim Spain 2. It appears that sexual unions were generally frowned upon by all religions groups because this could undermine jpg|250px|thumb|left|Muslim soldiers from a communities’ religious identity. This Spanish Medieval manuscript]]Islamic Spain was typicalunder the control of one religious group, namely the Muslims, who ruled Iberia in their own interests and it was indicative of frequently exploited the limited contacts between population. To maintain their position, they had to dominate the conquerors and their subjects in other groups, especially the first century or so of their rulemajority Christian population. This meant that <ref> Roth, Norman, The Jews in the majority Christian community was not really influenced by the MuslimsMuslim Conquest of Spain. Jewish Social Studies, 38, 2, because there was little social interaction and cultural exchange between them(1986) 145-158</ref>. This is also very similar Christians and Jews were expected to pay a poll tax used to support the case Muslim army and administration. It also seems that the Arabs appropriated many of the Zoroastrian population lands of Persia who were not influenced by Muslim culture Christians, and mores until some two centuries after the Arab conquests <ref> Kennedy, Hugh, The Great Arab Conquests how they seemed to have taken over the spread vast estates of Islam changed the world (De Capo Press, Philadelphia, 2007), pVisigoths. The invasion saw a revolution of who owned the land in Iberian society. 78 </ref>. For many ordinary Christians who lived in isolated villages were no longer privileged, and communities the Muslims overlords they were distant and had no real impact on their livesnow subjects of a foreign ruling class who had a different religion. In fact, it could be argued that the Muslims made the local Christians more attached The Christian community was in many instances reduced to their faith and this even confirmed the power status of serfs. As the Spanish Church. For Muslims entered the large Jewish communitylocal society, the Muslim conquest only meant exchanging one ruling class for anotherthey caused great disruption. By and They destroyed an Iberian society that had been in large they benefitted from measure like that which had existed under Roman rule. Muslim rulebrought some rapid changes to Spanish society, but they were arguably still not the equal and no aspect of Christians <ref> Roth, Norman, life was left untouched. The Muslims re-defined the relationships between the Christian and the Jews in , and the Peninsula became integrated into the Muslim Conquest Empire. The Peninsula became part of Spainthe Muslim world politically and economically. This was to benefit the Spanish economy enormously. Jewish Social Studies, 38, 2, (1986) 145-158</ref>The invaders introduced many new crops and advanced irrigation technologies.. The After Spain became part of the Muslim writer Al Jahiz claimed world, there was a marked increase in trade. This led to an increase in wealth and to the 8th century that ‘Christians growth of towns and cities. Soon cities like Toledo were more favored than Jews’ <ref> Al-Jahiz (dsprawling metropolises, and they became major centers of culture. 869 CAnother of the areas where there was a rapid change was in the legal code.E.)As in other societies that they conquered, the Muslims imposed their own legal code. A Reply to ChristiansThe traditional laws were overturned, and this impacted every aspect of society. Translated by Joshua Finkel. Reprinted in N. A. NewmanBefore the Muslim conquest, ed., The Early the law was structured to represent Christian-Muslim Dialoguevalues, 689-[718]but now it reflected the conquerors' religion. The Christians were now classed as the Dhimmi. They enjoyed legal protection in the eyes of the law, and their person and body were fully protected</ref>Bernard Lewis. The Jews continued to suffer History of the Middle East; a level brief history of discrimination as they had done under the Visigothslast 2000 years (Touchstone Books, University of Michigan, 2008), p. 45</ref>. <dh-ad/> However, they are legally inferior to their Muslim overlords. The Muslims were in very many ways like Arabs introduced a new language into the territories that they conquered, and Latin went into decline. Arabic became the Visigoths especially in official language, and this was the early years lingua franca of their rule. Like the Visigoths they were distinct from most of bureaucracy and the population by religionarmy. The old rulers This led to the emergence of Iberia were Arian Christians while the majority were Catholicsa scribal class versed in Arabic and a culture decisively influenced by Islamic culture. The Arab conquerors also like their predecessors established ====Continuities after the Muslim Invasion====Some historians argue that there was a feudal system with contingents blurring of armed colonists situated throughout the land to maintain control of the local peasantry. To many peasants there was no real difference distinctions between the Muslims and the old Visigoth regimethree main religious groups over time, which ultimately produced a tolerant and pluralistic society. It would Many revisionist historians have appeared to them that one foreign military elite had been replaced by another onecriticized this as a myth.==A new religion==Religion was central to medieval life. The invaders brought with them a religion that However, there is some agreement that in the immediate aftermath of the conquest, there were ‘obvious differences between conquerors and conquered and Muslims and non-Muslims’ <ref> Collins, p. 56</ref>. There was , as a polytheizing faith and this greatly complicated result, little interaction between the religious situation in Iberiavarious communities. Traditionally At first, the Muslim Conquest of Spain was believed to have resulted invaders did not influence their new subjects because they lived in many conversions from Christianity to Islam. However, these were not as numerous as many have believed and it was mainly members of the Visigoth elite who converted separate military settlements or ‘cantonments’ <ref> Collins, p. 57 </ref>. The three main religious groups in the first decades after the Muslim invasion Islamic Spain were reluctant to enter marriages that could lead to assimilation and this was done to retain the loss of their landsreligious and ethnic identity. The majority of the Christian population did not convert to Islam. This was in part because they It appears that sexual unions were strongly attached to their faith but also the simple fact generally frowned upon by all religious groups because this could undermine a communities’ religious identity. This was that typical and indicative of the Muslims did not really seek to convert them. The traditional view is that limited contacts between the Arabs forcibly converted conquerors and their subjects in the populations they ruledfirst century or so of their rule. This has been proven to be untrue. It meant that the majority Christian community was often hard for a Christian to convert. The Dhimmi paid a poll tax, and this not really influenced by the Muslims because there was essential for little social interaction and cultural exchange between them. This is also very similar to the treasury and this gave case of the Arab overlords every incentive to dissuade conversions Zoroastrian population of Persia who was not influenced by Muslim culture and mores until some two centuries after the Arab conquests <ref> Kennedy, pHugh, The Great Arab Conquests how the spread of Islam changed the world (De Capo Press, Philadelphia, 2007), p. 11478 </ref>. It seems that For many ordinary Christians who lived in isolated villages and communities, the first few centuries of Islamic rule Muslims overlords were distant and had no real impact on their lives. In fact, it could be argued that there were relatively few conversions. There were only mass-conversions during the 9th and especially Muslims made the local Christians more attached to their faith, which even confirmed the 10th century and these were all voluntarily conversionsSpanish Church's power. The Muslim invasion changed For the religion of Spainlarge Jewish community, but it did so over timethe Muslim conquest only meant exchanging one ruling class for another. This was once again similar to the situation in PersiaBy and large, where the conversion they benefitted from Muslim rule, but they were arguably still not the equal of Zoroastrians to Islam which was also a gradual process Christians <ref> KennedyRoth, Norman, pThe Jews in the Muslim Conquest of Spain. 79Jewish Social Studies, 38, 2, (1986) 145-158</ref>.==Conclusion==. The Muslim Civilization writer Al Jahiz claimed in Spain is rightly regarded as one of the world’s great cultures. 8th century that ‘Christians were more favored than Jews’ <ref> Al-Jahiz (d. 869 C.E.). It enriched both European and Middle Eastern civilization and this makes it uniqueA Reply to Christians. Translated by Joshua Finkel. This diverse and cultured society was very slow to emerge Reprinted in N. A. Newman, ed. , The Arabs did not simply sweep away the existing Early Christian civilization. Rather they sought to exploit the prevailing culture and administrative system to maintain their rule-Muslim Dialogue, this is understandable 689-[718]</ref>. The Jews continued to suffer a level of discrimination as they had done under the Visigoths. The Muslims were a minority in Spain. There was not simply not enough Arabs or their Berber allies to make significant changes to like the existing Visigoths in many ways , especially in the early years of life of their rule. Like the people that Visigoths, they had conqueredwere distinct from most of the population by religion. Rather we should see The old rulers of Iberia were Arian Christians, while the influence as creeping slowly over time over the Iberian Peninsulamajority were Catholics. Over time they even influenced those who remained Christians The Arab conquerors, as seen in the emergence of the Mozarabsalso like their predecessors, these were Spanish Christians who adopted many Arabic practicesestablished a feudal system with contingents of armed colonists situated throughout the land to maintain control of the local peasantry. To the peasantry, there was no real difference between the Muslims and the old Visigoth regime. It would have appeared to them that one foreign military elite had been replaced by another one. ====A new religion====Religion was central to medieval life. The invaders brought a religion that was a polytheizing faith, which greatly complicated the religious situation in Iberia. Traditionally the Muslim Conquest of Spain was believed to have resulted in many conversions from Christianity to Islam. However, these were not as numerous as many have believed, and it was mainly members of the Visigoth elite who converted in the first decades after the Muslim invasion, which was done to retain their lands. The majority of the Christian population did not convert to Islam. This was partly because they were strongly attached to their faith, but the simple fact was that the Muslims did not really seek to convert them. The traditional view is that the Arabs forcibly converted the populations they ruled. This has been proven to be untrue. It was often hard for a Christian to convert. The Dhimmi paid a poll tax, which was essential for the treasury, and this gave the Arab overlords every incentive to dissuade conversions <ref> Kennedy, p. 114</ref>. It seems that in the first few centuries of Islamic rule that there were relatively few conversions. There were only mass conversions during the 9th and especially the 10th century, and these were all voluntary conversions. The Muslim invasion changed the religion of Spain, but it did so over time. This was once again similar to the situation in Persia, where the conversion of Zoroastrians to Islam was also a gradual process.<ref> Kennedy, p. 79</ref> ====Conclusion====The Muslim Civilization in Spain is rightly regarded as one of the world’s great cultures. It enriched both European and Middle Eastern civilizations, and this makes it unique. This diverse and cultured society was very slow to emerge. The Arabs did not simply sweep away the existing Christian civilization. Rather they sought to exploit the prevailing culture and administrative system to maintain their rule. This is understandable as they were a minority in Spain. There were not enough Arabs or their Berber allies to make significant changes to the existing ways of life of the people that they had conquered. Rather we should see the influence as creeping slowly overtime over the Iberian Peninsula. The Muslims even influenced those who remained Christians, as seen in the emergence of the Mozarabs. These were Spanish Christians who adopted many Arabic practices. The evidence shows that while Iberia was conquered by the Muslims in a short time, it took centuries for them to change their lives and think of the indigenous peoples. The evidence shows that while Iberia This was conquered by also the Muslims case in a short space of time that it took centuries for them to change the lives and thinking of the indigenous peoples. This was also the case in the other lands the other lands that they conquered. Then there is the issue of religion. The Muslims did introduce a new religion, but it was many decades before , there were a great number of conversions to Islam. ====References====<references/>
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