Economy and society in al-Andalus

2. ECONOMY AND SOCIETY IN AL-ANDALUS ECONOMY ACTIVITY

-Muslims had a great economc development in agriculture, craftsmanship and trade.

Al-ﾃ］dalus was part of the ecomony of the Muslim world, but there were also an important commerce with Christian Europe.

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AGRICULTURE: The uese of water was regulated through irrigation canals and mills.

Crops, such as rice, cotton and citrus fruits were imported from Asia.

Cereals, vinesand olives were essential crops.

2. CRAFTS: Leather, iron, pottery and glass craftsmanship were famous throughout the Meditterranean due to their high quality.

3. TRADE: was very acive, because Muslims were intermediaries between East and West.

They imported raw materials and luxury items like gold, silver, ivory and silk.

They brought slaves.

They exported craft and agricultural products.

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They use of a singke currency in he Muslim world made easier the commercial activity. (the gold dinar and the silver dirham) There were important cities: Cﾃｳrdoba, Sevilla, Toledo, Valencia and Zaragoza

2. ECONOMY AND SOCIETY IN AL-ANDALUS CÓRDOBA, THE MOST IMPORTANT CITY IN EUROPE

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Córdoba was the greatest city of al-Ándalus

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It became the capital of he Emirate and later the Caliphate.

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Its location on the River Guadalquivir allowed t to control both north – south and east-west routes.

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The Great Mosque and he Palace of Medina Azahara in the west, demonstrated the city’s splendour.

2. ECONOMY AND SOCIETY IN AL-ANDALUS THE SOCIETY OF AL-ANDALUS -

Muslims were tolerant of the rest of the population.

The society of al-Andalus was diverse.

The conquerors were the most powerful group, but had different positions according to ethnic criteria: 1. Arabs: - They came from the East and led the conquest of the peninsula.

- They were the aristocracy and had political power and they were landowners.

2. Berbers: - They came from North Africa and had participated in the conquest.

- They received less fertile lands and had little power. So they participated in rebellions.

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Local population was organised according to religious criteria: 1. Muladis: - They were the majority of he population - They were former Christians who converted to Islam 2. Non-Muslims (Christians or Jews): - They practised their religion in return for paying tribute.

- Christians living in Muslim territory were called Mozarabs.

- Jews were involved in trade, finance, crafts and cultural activities.

- They wee very influential - They lived in Jewish quarters in cities.

- They practised their religion in synagogues.