Islamic Rule on the land of Spain and Portugal....

Did you know that almost the entirety of Spain and Portugal was under Islamic rule? The Arabs called the Iberian Peninsula "Al-Andalus". (الأَنْدَلُس) At one point during the height of the Umayyad Caliphate rule during mid 8th century, Muslims accounted for upto 80% of the pop.

Al Andalus also was a territory ruled by the Muslims that covered the Iberian peninsula, (Spain, Portugal and Southern France). In the year 711, the leading general of the Muslims Tariq Bin Ziyad led his army into the peninsula and landed at the shores of a mountain.

He called this mountain ‘Jabel Tareq’ which is known today as Gibraltar. The Battle of Guadalete, where the last Visigothic king, Roderick, was defeated by general Tariq ibn-Ziyad. Roderick ceases the throne in the year 711, and is later executed by Tariq ibn-Ziyad.

After the defeat of Roderick, the Visigoth dominion over the Iberian peninsula folded and fell apart from the Northern coast of the Iberian Peninsula. All areas previously under the rule of the Visigoths were now under Islamic rule.

Umayyad Caliphate in 750:-

The Muslims replaced the cathedral in Cordoba and built Europe’s largest mosque at the time. They had aqua docks which brought clean water into the cities. That's a serious achievement at that time, which is to be commended.

The Southern Spanish region Andalucía is named after al-Andalus, which is the name used by the Arabs / Moors for the whole Iberian peninsula. Al-Andalus derives from ‘Home of the Vandals’.

Here's some impressive chests, alchemical instruments, doors/arcs and Kufic writing from the Al Andalus era! (Islamic Golden Age) Historians say there were over 200,000 homes, 600 mosques and 50 hospitals by the end of the Islamic rule in 1492, as the Reconquista rolled in!

One thing which doesn't often get mentioned however, is the taboos of Islamic rulers in Spain and their homosexual fantasies. Al-Hakam II (915-976), kept a harem of male concubines. So that he could produce an heir, the Sultana was dressed as a boy and with the title "Jafar".