Mosque of Córdoba

Some years after Mahoma´ s death, the Islam advanced very quickly. The Muslims occupied an important part of the Iberian Peninsula. The conquest started with violent chapters, although, in general terms, it was carried out in peaceful way and without difficult resistances. In 670 Qayrawan is founded, in 711 the Muslims cross the Strait of Gibraltar and in 732 Carlos Martel stops their advance in Poitiers.

The Omeya Dinasty, of Sunnita tradition and with head quarter in Damasco, governed since 660. Territories from the North of India to the Iberian Peninsula and from Yemen to the Caucasus were conquered: it was the period of expansion. In 750 the Abasi family, Shiite, takes the power. In 762, Bagdad becomes the capital city after Damasco handed it over. The empire will be divided into: Idrisies in Morocco, Aglabies in Ifriqiyya, etc. The command of Harum ar-Rashid (786-809), the caliph of the Thousand and one Nights, was well- know. In 1258 the Tartar Hulagu took Bagdad, finishing with the decadent Abasi Empire.

The Banú Umayya dinasty continued its government in al-Andalus. In 756, Abd al-Rahman arrived from Damasco and founded the Independent Emirate of Cordoba, but the real organizer of the Arab Emirate was Abd al Rahman II, who delegated the powers to the viziers. The internal problems between Muladies and Mozarabs, as well the arrival of the Fatimi caliphate, seriously threatened Al-Andalus. To solve it, Abd al- Rahman III proclaimed himself caliph in 929, trying to finish with the rebellions and conflicts. He proclaims the independence of Bagdad from the Abasi caliphate. It was the period of splendour in Al- Andalus, when the Omeya state becomes several kingdoms known as the Taifas Kingdoms (39 small Kingdoms in which was divided the Caliphate of Cordoba.); as a consequence of the civil war between the fans of the last real caliph Hixam II and the Almanzor´ s successors.

The constant Almoravides and Almohads invasions from the North of Africa during the years 1090 and 1145 caused the weakening of the kingdoms, so it made, in the middle of the XIII Century, that al-Andalus was reduced to the Nasrid Kingdom of Granada.