In 711, an Umayyad force led by the commander Tariq ibn Ziyad crossed from North Africa into the Iberian Peninsula. They landed at the base of a great limestone rock that would later bear his name: Jabal Tariq, or Gibraltar, the mountain of Tariq. The peninsula's Visigothic kingdom was weakened by internal conflict, making it a vulnerable target. At the Battle of Guadalete in July 711, Tariq's army decisively defeated the forces of King Roderic. Within months, the capital of Toledo fell. This single campaign established a new territory called al-Andalus, which would exist for nearly 800 years. How could this small invading force conquer an entire kingdom so quickly, and what would it build in its place?
Al-Andalus: Muslim Spain
The nine-century history of al-Andalus, from the 711 conquest to the final expulsion of the Moriscos in 1614.
Chapter 1
The Mountain of Tariq
0:48
Part of
Frequently Asked Questions
What was al-Andalus?
Al-Andalus was the name given to the parts of the Iberian Peninsula governed by Muslims from 711 to 1492. Its territory varied over the centuries, but at its peak, it covered almost the entire peninsula. It was a major center of culture and science in medieval Europe.
Was al-Andalus truly a place of peaceful coexistence?
The idea of perfect tolerance, or 'Convivencia,' is debated by modern scholars. While there were periods of significant cultural exchange, society was a strict hierarchy where non-Muslims (dhimmis) had a protected but legally subordinate status and had to pay a special tax called the jizya.
How did al-Andalus end?
Al-Andalus gradually fell to the Christian 'Reconquista.' The final Muslim state, the Kingdom of Granada, was surrendered in 1492. The story concluded with the expulsion of the Moriscos, descendants of forcibly converted Muslims, between 1609 and 1614.
Learn more
To continue the story, download the Chunks Microlearning app
Or get it straight away:
Download on iOS
Download on Android