Al-Andalus from the 11 th to the 15 th centuries

4. AL-ANDALUS FROM THE 11 TH TO THE 15 TH CENTURIES THE ALMORAVIDS - The taifas states lost territory to the Christian kingdoms in the 11 th century.

- But in the north- west Africa, a nomadic Muslim people called the Almoravids built a considerable empire.

- Afer the Christian conquest of Toledo, the Almoravids entered the Iberian Peninsula.

- The Almoravids defeated Alfonso VI at the Battle of Sagrajas stopping Christian progress. They reconquered the city of Valencia and took the control of the taifa states.

- The Almoravids imposed very strict rule in Al-Andalus and were intolerant of the Christian Mozarab and Jewish minorities.

- They ruled lasted until the mid- 12 th century.

- They were weakened by Christian opposition and the rise of the Almohads in north Africa.

4. AL-ANDALUS FROM THE 11 TH TO THE 15 TH CENTURIES THE ALMOHADS -

The Almohads (Muslim people from the North of Africa) practised an extreme version of Islam copared to the less strict religion which was usually practised in Al-Andalus.

They crossed over to the Iberian Peninsula where they defeated Alfonso VIII at the Battle of Alarcos.

Al-Andalus was prosperous under the Almohads.

Sevilla was the Almohads capital on the peninsula.

They built impressive buildings like the Giralda and the Torre del Oro. The Christian kingdoms united under Alfonso VIII of Castilla defeated the Almohads at the Battle of Navas de Tolosa in 1212.

This ended Almohad rule .

By the mid-13 th century the Christians has conquered all the Iberian Peninsula except for Granada.

4. AL-ANDALUS FROM THE 11 TH TO THE 15 TH CENTURIES THE NASRID KINGDOM OF GRANADA

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After the end of Almohad rule the Christian kingdoms consolidated their conquest in the Guadalquivir valley.

The only kingdom that survived was Granada, which was ruled by the Nasrids until the late 15 th century (1492).

The Nasrid kingdom occupied the present-day provinces of Granada, MĂĄlaga and AlmerĂ­a.

It was forced to pay paria (tribute) to the Chrisian kings.

But the region was prosperous thanks to its agriculture and its trade with North Africa and Italy.

Granada had a sophisticated culture. Its oustanding achievements was the magnificent walled complex of the Alhambra in Granada.

THE ALHAMBRA OF GRANADA

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The Nasrid kings Yussuf I and Muhamad V built the Alhambra palace on a hill above the city of Granada.

It was a royal complex that had a palace, fortress, mosques, houses and defensive walls.