Granada in Middle Ages:

Level: 2º ESO (Bilingual)

School: I.E.S. Alhambra.
Author: Jose María Tintoré Parra.

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THE BIRTH OF A KINGDOM

THE KINGDOM OF GRANADA

− POLITICS
− ECONOMY
− SOCIETY

THE ALHAMBRA

THE FALL OF GRANADA

EXERCISES

GLOSSARY

LINKS

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THE BIRTH OF A KINGDOM

In 1212 an army of Spanish and European soldiers destroyed the Muslim Army at Navas de Tolosa.

Fernando III ('The Saint') captured Cordoba in 1236 and converted the mosque into the Cathedral of
Cordoba.

The ruler of Granada, Mohammed ibn-Alhamar, cooperated with Fernando III in the Conquest of
Muslim Seville.

As result of this pact, the Kingdom

of Granada appeared.

Granada became independent, as a subordinate of

Castile. The kingdom of Granada included modern day
Granada, Almeria and Malaga.

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− POLITICS:

Granada was a vassal to Castile. The Nasrid sultans and kings paid a tribute to Castile.

TRIBUTE TO
CASTILE

The Nasrid dynasty or Banuu Nasri ruled in Granada.

Nasrid shield Nasrid Flag

Granada allowedcommerce with the Muslim world, particularly the gold trade with the sub-saharan
areas south of Africa.

Gold travelled from

Africa to Granada.

The Nasrids also provided mercenaries from North Africa to Castile.

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Arabic was the official Language, and was the mother tongue of the majority of the population.

Arabic

About the Government:

The ruler was the Sultan. The Sultan had religious and political power. He was the “Prince of
Believers”. He lived isolated, without contact with other people.

The sultan used some viziers (burden-bearer, literally) as public servants, ministers.

SULTAN

VIZIERS

One important ruler was Muhammad V. He was born in 1338. He ruled between 1354 and 1391,
and is famous for completing the Alhambra with the Palace of the Lions and the Mexuar. He
employed the poet and diplomat Ibn Jaldun in negotiations with Pedro “The Cruel.”

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− ECONOMY:

Granada had, more or less, 50.000 inhabitants, Malaga 20.000 and other towns, like Almeria or
Ronda, 10.000.

In Economy, the water became a very important element. All the towns were near the rivers, and it
had a lot of infraestructures for using the water.

This meant a very good agriculture, with a lot of crops, like almonds, oranges, lemons, pears,
apples, pomegranates...

So, in the Alpujarra and Axarquia there were silkworms, near the coast there was sugar cane and in
the Almanzora valley there was honey...

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Nasri Muslims extracted minerals too. They extracted marble from Macael, iron from Sierra de los
Filabres, quicksilver from Bayarque...

Inside the towns “alcaicerías” (market for silks and manufactures) appeared. There were all kinds of
craftsmen: jewellers, sculptors...

It was a good moment for art and science. Ibn Al-Jatib and Ibn Zamrak were important writers, and
they wrote about History, Philosophy, Poetry, Literature and a lot of topics more. One good
mathemathic was Al-Qalasadi. He wrote several books on Arithmetic and one on Algebra.

Another wise man was Ibn Khaldun. Ibn Khaldun was a famous North African Arab polymath (an
astronomer, economist, historian, Islamic scholar, Islamic theologian, hafiz, jurist, lawyer,
mathematician, military strategist, nutritionist, philosopher, social scientist and statesman). He is the
"father" of the Social Sciences in general.

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− SOCIETY:

The population of the kingdom of Granada was about 300.000 people. 50.000 of them
(approximately) lived in the capital.

Most of people were muslims. Some of them were descendants of arabs, syrians and berbers. But a
lot of them were refugees from the Christian Kingdoms.

Jewish people were only 1% in the town. They were silk workers, jewellers and merchants.

There were a little Christians. Most of them were captives. But there were some Christian
merchants: Genoese, Portuguese and Catalano-Aragonese.

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THE ALHAMBRA:
Alhambra ("the red one"; the complete name is "Qal'at al-Hambra") is a palace and fortress
complex of the Moorish rulers of Granada.
Moorish Poets described it as "a pearl set in emeralds" in allusion to the colour of its buildings and
the woods around them.
Moors planted roses, oranges and myrtles in the park.

The park has a multitude of nightingales and is usually filled with the
sound of running water from several fountains and cascades.

In the link below, you can hear the sound of a nightingale

http://www.freesound.org/samplesViewSingle.php?id=17185
In every case, the exterior is plain and austere.
The decoration consists on foliage, Arabic inscriptions, and geometrical patterns. Here you can see
all things:

GEOMETRICAL
FOLIAGE PATTERNS

ARABIC
INSCRIPTIONS

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A tour of the Alhambra
The Tower of Justice (Torre de la Justicia) is the original entrance gate to the Alhambra. They
constructed it in 1348.
The hand of Fatima, is on the exterior; a key, the symbol of authority, is on the interior.
When the key and the hand are united, it means the ruin of the Alhambra

Hand and key

touching...

Alhambra destroyed

Torre de la Justicia.

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The Alhambra has got three parts:
The alcazaba or citadel, is the oldest part. It has got a lot of walls and towers.

Tower

Wall

On the watchtower, the Torre de la Vela, 25 metres high, Ferdinand and Isabella raised their flag on
January 2, 1492.

...their flag

They raised...

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The Royal Complex. Consists of three main parts: Mexuar, Serallo, and the Harem.

In the Mexuar were the areas for business and administration. The ceilings, floors, and trim are
made of wood.

Administration

Serallo contains the “Patio de los Arrayanes” (Court of the Myrtles). The pond divides the patio and
receives water from two fountains

The pond

The lateral sections were the women's residence.

The emir had a lot of

women. They all
lived in a section in
the court of the
Myrtles

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Harem is very decorated and contains the rooms for the wives of the Arabic monarchs. But this one
was simply the king's home. The Harem was just his calm and normal home.
The Three Wives of the Sultan lived in this place. But,
«the favourite wife» (sultans used to have four wives),
lived separately.

The three wives

It contains a bathroom and showering. The Harem also has representations of human forms, which
is forbidden under Islamic law.

The third part is the Royal Palace (Palacio Árabe, or Casa Real) Some of the important rooms are:
The “Salón de los Embajadores” (Hall of the Ambassadors) This was the grand reception room, and
the throne of the Sultan was here. There are a lot of decorative inscriptions on the walls. The
decorative inscriptions are poems.

There are a lot of

mocarabes or
Honeycomb work.

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The Court of the Lions, one of the stranges Islamic animal statues. In the centre of the court there is
the Fountain of Lions, an alabaster basin with the figures of twelve lions in white marble.

The “Sala de los Abencerrajes” derives its name from a legend. The father of Boabdil, last king of
Granada, invited the Abencerrajes family to a banquet, and massacred them here.

Abencerraje before Abencerrajes after

the massacre the Massacre

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Palacio de Generalife: The “Palacio de Generalife” was the summer palace of the Nasrid Sultans of
Granada. The Generalife is one of the oldest surviving Moorish gardens.

In 1492, the Conquerors began to alter the Alhambra.

In 1812, French Army destroyed some of the towers.

Napoleon tried to blow up the Alhambra. But a soldier defused the explosives and saved the
Alhambra for posterity.
Special features:

The Alhambra has a special type of column.

One impressive decorative element is the mocarabe.

There are a lot of horseshoe archs.

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THE FALL OF GRANADA.

Though there were periods of peace, Granada was in constant danger. Muslims evolved tactics to
battle Christians.

Christians
wanted
Granada

The tactics were essentially defensive. The army was skilled and well organised. Infantry formed a
majority. The discipline was strict and the training was rigorous.

Crossbowmen were the most important element in Granadian tactics, specially in ambush and
guerrilla tactics.

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The Fall of Granada: With the unification of Castile and Aragon under King Ferdinand and Queen
Isabella, Granada had an united enemy. Christians planned the extinction of Al-Andalus once for
all.

The Christian army had a lot of artillery and a lot of handgunners. Gunpowder weapons made
castle-strongholds more vulnerable. Cannon was the key.

Cannons
destroyed castles.

In the War for Granada, Spanish Muslims and Christians used

handguns.

Handgunners
Handgun

The campaign was long and bitter. When the Muslim burned the Christian camp, the Christians
built a permanent town called Santa Fe. But the defenders resisted.

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Finally, Boabdil (the last Sultan) negotiated a private surrender against the wishes of his people.
Christians entered secretly into the Alhambra Palace on 2th January 1492.

This was the end of Al-Andalus. All the muslims had to go out.

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EXERCISES

Birth of a Kingdom
1- Colour in these maps:

In red: The Christian land.

In green: The Muslim area.

A) In this map, the situation before the Navas de Tolosa battle. (1212)

B) In this map, the situation after the Navas de Tolosa battle. (1236)

You can use your book and this link.

http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=ci2jTnI2qqk
Or maybe this:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/ca/Spanish_reconquista.gif

2- Link the related ones

Ferdinand III Vassal of Castile

Muhammad Inb Al-Hammar Kingdom of Granada
1212 Mosque of Cordoba
Granada, Almería and Malaga The saint king
Was converted into a Cathedral Total victory for Christians

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Policy:
3- The kingdom of Granada was useful to Castile because:

It was a very good friend of The women from Granada were It paid tribute.
Castile very beautiful.
It provided petrol and gas oil. It provided mercenaries Castile needed enemies.

Granada was a good ally It was very good at maths. Granada was, in fact, a
against France. Christian kingdom.
The African gold came through Granada provided very good Castile could sell in Granada a
Granada weapons. lot of fruits, wine and silk.

4- Answer the questions:

a) What was the name of the last dinasty in Granada?

b) What was the name for the rulers in Nasrid Granada?
c) Who were the “burden-bearers”?
d) What was the language in Granada?
e) Name one famous poet and one famous ruler of Granada.

Economy:
5- Look for three recipes containing at least two ingredients produced by granadian agriculture.
Write them briefly in your notebook. You can use this link. http://allrecipes.com/

6- Name three things that you can do with:

Quicksilver (Mercury)

Iron.

Marble.

7- Look for the words in English in the dictionary, and draw them. Use the link:
http://www.wordreference.com/

− Acequia.
− Noria.
− Azafrán.

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Alhambra:
8- Link the character with the definition:

Definition Character
A very good mathematic. The Catholic Monarchs

The first ruler of Nasrid

Granada. Al-Kalasadi
Important muslim writer, the
father of social science.
Muhammad
They united Aragon and Ibn Khaldun
Castile.

The conqueror of Sevile. Muhammad Ibn Al Hammar

One important ruler of Granada,

in the XIV century. Fernando III

9- Alhambra true or false:

There is not plants in the Alhambra. T F

They killed the Abencerrajes family in the “Hall of the Abencerrajes” T F
The decoration is outside. T F
The mocarabe is like a stalactite. T F
The french army constructed some towers in the Alhambra. T F
Generalife was a summer palace. T F
The sultan used to have three wives. T F
The Fountain of Lions is made out of iron. T F
The Spanish flag is raised in the main tower. T F
The Alhambra means "a pearl set in emeralds" T F

10- Try to do this puzzle. You can see geometrical patterns as in the Alhambra inscriptions.
http://www.jigzone.com/puzzles/0D055D4F715B

11- Go to this link, create a puzzle of “The court of the Lions” and send it to the teacher.
(Remember: tintoreprofe@gmail.com)

http://jigsawplanet.com/
http://jigsawplanet.com/?id=4cea5ce4dcc1de05

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12- Wordsearch:

There are a lot of these birds in the

Alhambra
Typical islamic arch

When it touches the hand, the Alhambra

will be destroyed
The material for the Fountain of Lions

Massacred family

Isabella's husband

Colour of the Alhambra

13- Alhambra legends: Go to this link, read it and draw a comic with your favorite legend.

http://www.alhambra.org/eng/index.asp?secc=/alhambra/alhambra_legends

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14- Point on the map to...
Tower of Justice.
Alcazaba.
Torre de la vela.
Mexuar.
Court of the Myrtles
Hall of the Ambassadors
Court of the Lions
Generalife
Charles V palace.

You can use this interactive map:

http://www.alhambra-patronato.es/index.php/Plano-del-recinto/216+M54a708de802/0/

The fall of Granada:

15- Fill the gaps:

*The key for the Christian victory was the _________________.
*In January 1492, Christians entered _______ ____ _____________ ________________.
*The ______________ was a very important weapon in the Muslim army.
*The Muslim army destroyed the Christian ________, but they built a permanent town in Santa Fe.
* Boabdil wanted a ____________ ______________, but the people in Granada wanted to
_________.
* Granada had an united enemy with the _____________ of Castile and Aragon.
* Soldiers who use gunpowder weapons use a ____________.
* Christians planned the _____________ of Muslim Spain.
* The ________-_________ were very good defensive buildings.

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16- Find in the picture: Handgunner, Granadan soldier, shield.
17- Link:
DEFINITION WORD
A defensive building with Ambush
walls, made out mainly of Campaign
stone.
Unification
Very big gunpowder weapon,
used to break walls.
Castle
To surprise the enemy
Several military operations. Camp
Two kingdoms become one
Temporary living quarters for Cannon
the army

18- Look for the words in the English text: Castillo, rendición, deseos, mayoría, ballesteros,
habilidoso, amargo/a.

19- Write in four sentences maximum, the plot of the text.

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20- Identify in this picture:
− Boabdil.
− Ferdinand.
− Isabelle.
− The Alhambra.
− The town keys.
− The Christian Army.
− The Muslim Army.
− The winners.
− The losers.

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GLOSSARY

Alabaster: Alabastro (un tipo de mármol blanco)

Ambush: Emboscada.
Army: Ejército.

Banquet: Banquete.
Basin: Cuenco, pila.
Bearer: Portador.
Believer: Creyente.
Below: Debajo.
Berber: Beréber (del norte de África)
Bitter: Amargo/a.
Burden: Carga.
Bussines: Negocios

Campaign: Campaña (Serie de batallas)

Captive: Cautivo.
Ceiling: Techo.
Complex: Complejo.
Conquest: Conquista.
Courtyard: Patio.
Craftsman / craftsmen: Artesano / artesanos.
Crop: Cultivo.
Crossbow: Ballesta.

Emerald: Esmeralda.
Essentially: Esencialmente.

Fortress: Fortaleza.

Gate: Puerta.
Grand: Magnífico

Handgun: Arma de fuego (individual).

Hangunners: Tiradores (con arma de fuego).
Hidden: Escondido, oculto.
Horseshoe: Herradura. Se refiere a los arcos de herradura.

Independent: Independiente.

Jeweller: Joyero.

King: Rey.
Kingdom: Reino.

Link: Vínculo, enlace.

Majority: Mayoría.
Marble: Mármol.

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Massacre: Masacre. To Massacre: Masacrar.
Merchant: Mercader, comerciante.
Modern: Moderno/a.
Muslim: Musulmán.
Myrtle: Arrayán.

Nightingale: Ruiseñor.

Once for all: De una vez por todas.

Palace: Palacio
Pattern: Patrón.
Pearl: Perla.
Plain: Plano, liso.
Pond: Estanque.
Power: Poder.

Quicksilver (or Mercury): Mercurio (el mineral)

Refugee: Refugiado.
Ruin: Ruina.
Ruler: Gobernante.

Servant: Sirviente.
Silkworm: Gusano de seda.
Silver: Plata.
Skilled: Habilidoso/a.
Soldier: Soldado.
Statue: Estatua
Strict: Estricto/a.
Subject: Vasallo (Tiene más acepciones, pero aquí se usa este sentido)
Successors: Sucesores.
Sugar cane: Caña de azúcar.
Surrender: Rendición.

Throne: Trono
Tongue: Lengua.
Tower: Torre.
Trade/To trade: Comercio, negocio, intercambio. Intercambiar, negociar.
Training: Entrenamiento.
Tribute: Tributo.
Trim: Adorno.

Valley: Valle.
Vase: Vasija.
Vassal: Vasallo.

Wall: Muro.
Wise: Sabio.
Wood: Madera.

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Verbs:

To allow: Permitir.
To appear: Aparecer.

To become: Llegar a ser, convertirse, volverse, devenir.

To blow up: Volar (con explosivos)
To build / built / built: Construir.

To capture: Capturar.
To construct: Construir.
To contain: Contener
To convert: Convertir.
To cooperate: Cooperar.

To defuse: Desactivar.

To employ
To evolve: Desarrollar (se)

To fill: Llenar, rellenar. (Filled: Relleno, lleno.)

To forbid / forbade / forbidden: Prohibir.

To include: Incluir.

To mean/ meant /meant: Querer decir.

To Provide: Proveer, proporcionar.

To rule: Gobernar.

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LINKS

http://www.alhambradegranada.org/historia/alhambraTJusticia_en.asp
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pg
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