If you were out on Friday:  We took an in depth look at the Umayyad Dynasty.

 

After the death of the fourth caliph in 661, the Umayyad family established a dynasty that ruled the Muslim empire until 750 A.D.

         

The Muslim world grew under the Umayyad dynasty, spreading Islam to the Atlantic in the west and to the Indus Valley in the east. (See map below) The expansion included Morocco and Tunisia in Northern Africa, parts of India located near the Indus River Valley, and Spain.

 

Some changes were made under the Umayyad Dynasty.  For example the Umayyad moved its capital from Medina to Damascus. And often had to rely on local officials to help govern their vast empire.  It was this reliance that allowed the Muslim empire to be influenced by the Byzantine and Persian traditions of ruling families (dynasties). 

 

Although many lands and cultures may have had a hand at trying to shape the Umayyad dynasty and the Islamic empire, it was really the Umayyad Dynasty that was influential in shaping the lands they had conquered. 

 

 

Look at the pictures below taken in Granada, Spain. 

 

This is the court of Myrtles, Alhambra, Granada, Spain.  It remains one of the best examples of Islamic architectural design.

 

 

Look at the arches, what do you notice about them?  How do they differ from Roman arches?

 

 

Can’t remember what a roman arch looks like click here

 

Take a closer look:  Below are pictures taken in Cordoba, Spain and in Morocco, Africa.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Notice what is inscribed on the walls?

What language might it be?

Where might the sayings have come from?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now compare the above Islamic architectural designs to other the Roman designs found in Spain. 

 

 

How does this architecture differ from the above pictures?

 

 

 

 

 

Why might architectural designs in one country vary so much?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally observe these final pictures from my trip to Granada and Cordoba, Spain and Morocco, Africa…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If the Muslim Empire was spreading so well why might they have stopped spreading?

--Hint:  Look back at the map above…

The key lies in France at the Battle of Tours.

 

Make a prediction:

 What might have happened at that battle that halted the spread of Islam?

 

Now click on the following Battle of Tours link to find out if you were right…  

                                                                             Battle of Tours

 

Now think…Why was the Battle of Tours a major turning point in history?