Moorish – amazing facts and trivia
– The Moors introduced many new crops, that were previously unknown in both Spain and Europe, and thus deemed exotic novelties. This includes orange, lemon, peach, apricot, fig, sugar cane, dates, ginger and pomegranate as well as saffron, sugar cane, cotton, silk and rice. Although common place nowadays, during the Middle Ages these items were almost alien to the Spanish. Today, centuries later, they have become staples of Spanish production and diet.
– Upon their arrival in Iberia, the Moors saw the potential in the old Roman irrigation systems they found and quickly adopted, enhanced and revived them. This led to a surge in agricultural productivity and a boost in the economy. Soon, Spain became one of the largest producers of crops in Europe, all thanks to the Moors’ innovative irrigation techniques.
– Education was of utmost importance to the Moors, who ensured that it was universally available to all within their realm. This stood in stark contrast to medieval Europe, where 90% of the population remained illiterate, and education was reserved for only the wealthiest nobles and clergy. In fact, there were even some European Kings who could not read or write. The Moors established 17 great universities in Spain, located in cities such as Cordoba, Malaga, Granada, Seville, Toledo and Almeria, among others.
– The Moors, who ruled Spain for 800 years, introduced new scientific techniques to Europe, such as an astrolabe, a device for measuring the position of the stars and planets. They brought scientific progress in Astronomy, Chemistry, Physics, Medecine, Mathematics, Geography and Philosophy, they all flourished in Moorish Spain.
– Even though chess is over 1,500 years old, it was first introduced to Europe in its current form by the Moors. Chess spread from India to the Arabic world and was introduced to Spain by the Moors. It quickly became popular and swept across Europe’s courts and society. In medieval Spain, chess was a popular game of strategy and patience.
– At its height, Córdova, the heart of Moorish territory in Spain, was the most modern city in Europe. The streets were well-paved, with raised sidewalks for pedestrians. During the night, ten miles of streets were well illuminated by lamps. (This was hundreds of years before there was a paved street in Paris or a street lamp in London.) Cordova had 900 public baths – we are told that a poor Moor would go without bread rather than soap!
– The Moors introduced paper to Europe and Arabic numerals, which replaced the clumsy Roman system.
– The Moorish rulers lived in sumptuous palaces, while the monarchs of Germany, France, and England dwelt in big barns, with no windows and no chimneys, and with only a hole in the roof for the exit of smoke. One such Moorish palace ‘Alhambra’ (literally “the red one”) in Granada is one of Spain’s architectural masterpieces. Alhambra was the seat of Muslim rulers from the 13th century to the end of the 15th century. The Alhambra is a UNESCO World Heritage Site
– It was through Africa that the new knowledge of China, India, and Arabia reached Europe. The Moors brought the Compass from China into Europe.
– Spices were a rare commodity for Europeans, and their food was often considered bland. The Moors changed that by bringing over hundreds of unique spices, new recipes and innovative methods of preparing food. This culinary revolution gave rise to many wondrous dishes that we still enjoy today. The Moorish spice markets were famous for their variety, offering choice for cooks of all styles. The colors and smells of these medieval markets must have been truly incredible!
Moorish cuisine… what’s all about?
Moorish is what is originating from the Moors; geographically located from the southern Iberian peninsula, Sicily, Malta, to Northern African coastal.
In Spain, especially in Andalusia, the presence of Moorish culture can be seen on every corner. Intertwined with the culture of catholic Spain, this is evident in everything from the architecture to the cuisine. This influence is due to the lengthy Islamic reign over the Iberian Peninsula, during 8 centuries actually!
One of the biggest influences was without doubt on the cuisine, a tradition which fortunately continues today. It’s also a cuisine from the nomadic people that influenced North African and Moroccan cooking.
After arriving in Spain, one of the first innovations achieved by the Moors was the installation of irrigation systems which allowed the harvesting of arid areas, thereby expanding and improving vegetable plantations…The Moors brought with them many of the spices and aromatic herbs now known in Spain, along with the cooking methods associated with them. Not only did this mean they brought their own personality to dishes but it also allowed them to maintain their own methods of food preservation.
Moorish Culture – the Alhambra of Granada
The Alhambra is a palace and fortress complex located in Granada, Andalusia, Spain. It is one of the most famous monuments of Islamic architecture and one of the best-preserved palaces of the historic Islamic world, in addition to containing notable examples of Spanish Renaissance architecture.
The complex was begun in 1238 by Muhammad I Ibn al-Ahmar, the first Nasrid emir and founder of the Emirate of Granada, the last Muslim state of Al-Andalus.
During this era, the Alhambra was a self-contained city separate from the rest of Granada below. It contained most of the amenities of a Muslim city such as a mosque, hammams, roads, houses, artisan workshops, a tannery, and a sophisticated water supply system, in between 6 different major palaces.
Multiple smaller towers and fortified gates are also located along the Alhambra’s walls. Outside the Alhambra walls and located nearby to the east is the Generalife, a former country estate and summer palace accompanied by historic orchards and modern landscaped gardens.
The architecture of the Nasrid palaces reflects the tradition of Moorish architecture developed over previous centuries. It is characterized by the use of the courtyard as a central space and basic unit around which other halls and rooms were organized. Courtyards typically had water features at their centre, such as a reflective pool or a fountain. Decoration was focused on the inside of the building and was executed primarily with tile mosaics on lower walls and carved stucco on the upper walls. Geometric patterns, vegetal motifs, and Arabic inscriptions were the main types of decorative motifs. Additionally, “stalactite”-like sculpting, known as muqarnas, was used for three-dimensional features like vaulted ceilings.
This palace is truly one of the marvel of the world, where different cultures mix and create something beyond themselves…if you have the chance to visit Andalusia, don’t hesitate, offer yourself few hours of travel back in time, and dive into moorish history and architecture…
Moorish Culture : la Convivencia or centuries of multiculturalism
Something truly amazing about the al-Andalus period (Muslim-ruled area of the Iberian Peninsula) and more globally about the moorish culture is the (relative) truce between what are called the religions of the book, aka Judaism, Christianity and Islam, at the turn of the first millenium.
Convivencia as one of the “rare periods in history” when the three religions did not either keep “their distance from one another, or were in conflict.” During most of their co-existing history, they have been “ignorant about each other” or simply “attacked each other.”
Convivencia often refers to the interplay of cultural ideas between the three religious groups and ideas of religious tolerance. Many ethnicities and religions co-existed in al-Andalus, each of which contributed to its intellectual prosperity. It played an important role in bringing the classics of Greek philosophy to Europe, with translations from Greek to Arabic to Hebrew and Latin.
The ethnic structure of al-Andalus consisted of Arabs at the top of the social scale followed by, in descending order, Berbers, Muladies, Mozarabes, Jews and Majus (each of these communities inhabited distinct neighborhoods in the cities). Non-Muslims were given the status of ahl al-dhimma (people under protection), with adult men paying a “Jizya”, a tax equal to one dinar per year with exemptions for women, children, elderly and disabled. This tax covered the exemption from military service for non-Muslims, for the permission to practice a non-Muslim faith with some communal autonomy in a Muslim state, and as material proof of the non-Muslims’ submission to the Muslim state and its laws.
Jews constituted more than five percent of the population. Al-Andalus was a key centre of Jewish life during the early Middle Ages, produced important scholars and was one of the most stable and wealthy Jewish communities.
We would love to see something like that nowadays, aren’t we? We indeed can live together in harmony!
If you want to have a testimony of these glorious times, come join us for our next moorish workshop, and try the sublime mix of cultures that is the Moorish gastronomy!
