African Moors who introduced learning and civilization in Spain.
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The Moors began invading Spain around 711 AD when an African army, under leader Tariq ibn-Ziyad, crossed the Strait of Gibraltar from North Africa invading the Iberian peninsula ‘Andalus’ (Spain under Visigoths). ImageImageImageImage
Tarik Ibn Zayid led 300 Arabs and 6700 Africans in conquering Spain around 700 A.D.

A European scholar sympathetic to the Spaniards remembered the conquest in this way: 📸 And second image from Alfonso X description. 📷 ImageImage
The Moors, who ruled Spain for 800 yrs, introduced new scientific techniques to Europe, i.e astrolabe, a device for measuring the position of the stars and planets. Scientific progress in Astronomy, Chemistry, Physics, Maths, Geography and Philosophy flourished in Moorish Spain. ImageImage
Basil Davidson, a noted historians recognized and declared that there were no lands at that time (the eighth century) “more admired by its neighbours, or more comfortable to live in, than a rich African civilization which took shape in Spain”

📸Moors of Spain/Portugal & Basil ImageImage
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.

📸 The Moors Head craven Image
(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! Image
The Great Mosque of Córdoba (La Mezquita) is still one of the architectural wonders of the world in spite of later Spanish disfigurements. Its low scarlet and gold roof, jasper and and porphyry, was lit by thousands of brass and silver lamps which burned perfumed oil. Image
Education was universal in Moorish Spain, available to all, while in Christian Europe ninety-nine percent of the population were illiterate, and even kings could neither read nor write. At that time, Europe had only two universities, the Moors had seventeen great universities. Image
These universities were located in Almeria, Cordova, Granada, Juen, Malaga, Seville, and Toledo.

In the 10th and 11th centuries, public libraries in Europe were non-existent, while Moorish Spain boasted of more than 70, of which the one in Cordova housed 600,000 manuscripts. Image
The most significant Moorish musician was known as Ziryab (the Blackbird) who arrived in Spain in 822. The Moors introduced earliest versions of several instruments, including the Lute or el oud, the guitar or kithara and the Lyre. They brought medicine ImageImageImage
Ziryab changed the style of eating by breaking meals into separate courses beginning with soup and ending with desserts. The Moors introduced paper to Europe and Arabic numerals, which replaced the clumsy Roman system.

📸 Ibrahim-al-Ibrahim mosque ImageImage
The Moors introduced many new crops including the orange, lemon, peach, apricot, fig, sugar cane, dates, ginger and pomegranate as well as saffron, sugar cane, cotton, silk and rice which remain some of Spain’s main products today. Image
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. ImageImage
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.

📸 Alhambra, Grenada Image
It was through Africa that the new knowledge of China, India, and Arabia reached Europe. The Moors brought the Compass from China into Europe. The Moors ruled and occupied Lisbon (named “Lashbuna” by the Moors) and the rest of the country until well into the twelfth century. ImageImage
They were finally defeated & driven out by the forces of King Alfonso Henriques. The scene of this battle was the Castelo de Sao Jorge or the ‘Castle of St. George.’
Their material history/culture can be found by reading the Roman historian Cornelius Tacitus

📸Moor Battle, 1636 Image
To know more about Ancient African civilization and history check my likes tweet and follow me to see my future post.

Sources Hubpages education and Black history studies. Image

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More from @Joe__Bassey

5 Nov
Ancient Africans Civilization
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By the 3rd century BC, the city of Carthage on the coast of Tunisia was very wealthy and impressive
It had a population between 700,000 and 1million people. Lining both sides of the streets were rows of tall houses six storeys high founded 800 BC.
Carthage was later conquered and destroyed by the Romans in 146 BC. It was rebuilt by the Romans and occupied by early Arab conquerors.
To know more about Ancient African civilization and history check my likes tweet and follow me to see my future post.
Read 4 tweets
5 Nov
By 1400s they had created a wealthy kingdom with a powerful ruler, known as the Oba. The Obas lived in beautiful palaces decorated with shining brass. The world famous bronzes of Benin Kingdom, carted away by the British in 1897 after pillaging the capital destroying the palace.
How the Benin Kingdom bronzes challenged the primitive European and Victorian notions when they were displayed in London in the 1890s..
Read 5 tweets
4 Nov
Queen Nzinga
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Queen Nzinga is a renowned African legend considered as the greatest figure of African resistance against the European slave trade.
She lived in the 17th century and for 40 years of her Resistance, was able to resist the European slave trade.
Queen Nzinga was born in 1581 amidst all the turmoil. She was the daughter of Ngola Kiluanji Mbandi and was trained and raised for battle as her father perceived the strength of leadership his daughter possessed on time. She started going to battles with her father as a teenager.
She experienced several battles led by her father against the Europeans, the Mbundu people of Ndongo kingdom withdrew as they couldn’t stand the ferocious weapons of the Europeans. In 1622, at 41 years old, she set out on the journey that would forever change history.
Read 9 tweets
1 Nov
African Ancient schools
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Famous well known Greeks (Europeans) whom we study their history and writings, studied at the feet of Ancient Egyptian (Kemet) scholars at the Temple of Waset founded 1405B.C (15BC Cent) & also in Timbuktu Temple founded in 1201BC (13BC Cent) in now Mali
Phil Plato was a student at Waset Temple for 11yrs. Also, Aristotle was a student there for 11-13 years. Socrates spent at least 15 years at the same temple; likewise, Euclid studied for 10-11 years at the same temple. Pythagoras spent 22 years there.
Ancient Scholars in Egypt began keeping records as far back as 4000 to 3000 BC same with the people of now sub-saharan Africa. Several Europeans also studied in Timbuktu Temple where most researches were carried out.
Read 9 tweets
31 Oct
The Mino: The Formidable Women Army Of Dahomey In West Africa
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Mino, which means “our mothers” in Fon language, was a group of women, raised by kings of Dahome in the Early 17th century of African era when he mobilized all forces of the Kingdom.
The aim was for the Mino to fight and defeat the Yorubas who were taking over their lands at the time.
Subsequently, they would become the army that fought the French colonizers bravely, in defense of their kingdom, Dahomé, which is the present-day Benin Republic.
After a stringent selection process in adolescence, the Minos are chosen and put through rigorous training. They are trained to handle weapons and they are psychologically and religiously prepared to obey and serve the king with reverence.
Read 12 tweets
31 Oct
Indigenous people of Australia Link to Africa
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Australia was the home to over 400 aborigine tribes. A genetic study showed that Australian people may have left Africa up to 75,000 years ago which would make them one of the oldest continuous populations outside of Africa.
Australia has two distinct groups of Indigenous peoples of Australia, they are Torres Strait Islander peoples and the Aboriginal peoples.
Cave painting from Northern Territory, Australia, of a spirit figure associated with the meeting of the legendary kangaroo and serpent heroes in the Dreaming.
Read 7 tweets

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