Lesson video

Hello, my name is Ms. Krijnauw.

Are you ready to travel to distant lands and discover fascinating stories? As we learn about the early Islamic civilization and what connected Baghdad to the wider world, we're going on an exciting journey back in time to explore two incredible cities of the past: Baghdad and Cordoba.

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to compare Baghdad with another major Islamic city, Cordoba, and it is my job to support you with the learning materials and resources.

Before we start this lesson, there are some keywords I would like to introduce you to.

They are Al-Andalus, which was the Muslim-ruled area of the Iberian Peninsula, including modern-day Gibraltar, Portugal, Spain, and Southern France.

Another keyword is Abd al-Rahman, who was the founder and first emir of the Emirate of Cordoba, and he ruled from 756 to 788 CE.

An emir is a ruler or king in Islamic countries.

An emirate is a region or territory ruled by a leader called an emir.

The last keyword is Visigoths.

They were a Germanic tribe from regions in what is now Eastern Europe.

They settled in the Iberian Peninsula in the 5th century CE.

Today's lesson about Baghdad and Cordoba has three learning cycles, and the first one is entitled Abd al-Rahman.

Baghdad, the capital of the Abbasid Caliphate, was at the heart of the Islamic Golden Age.

Picture this, it's the 8th century and Baghdad is the centre of the world in terms of knowledge, culture, and trade.

The city is bustling with scholars, poets, artists, scientists, and traders from all over the world.

As you walk through the streets of Baghdad, you hear different languages as merchants haggle over prices, you smell exotic spices and sweet incense, and you see beautiful architecture and geometric artwork all around.

At that time, Baghdad was truly a melting pot of cultures and ideas.

But at the same time, another Islamic city also became a vibrant centre of art and learning, and that city was called Cordoba.

If we were to travel west of Baghdad, we would arrive in Cordoba.

Cordoba was a historic city located in what is now Southern Spain, and it was part of Al-Andalus, the Islamic territory of the Iberian Peninsula during the Middle Ages.

In the 10th century, Cordoba was one of the largest and most advanced cities in Europe.

Compare the maps of the Iberian Peninsula in the early 8th century to modern day.

Do you notice any similarities? Can you spot any differences? Pause the video here, and when you are ready to reflect on the differences and similarities, press play.

Here are some similarities and differences that I noticed, but, of course, you may have spotted some more.

Some of the similarities are: Some cities have retained their names, for example, Cordoba.

Another similarities are coastlines on the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean.

Some differences though are that Al-Andalus has now been divided into Portugal and Spain and it also did not border with France, but now Spain shares a border with France.

Well done if you spotted those similarities and differences.

In the 8th century, a man Abd al-Rahman made Cordoba his own city.

This event marked an important moment in the history of the Iberian Peninsula.

Abd al-Rahman was a prince of the Umayyad Dynasty in the 8th century, and he ruled the Islamic Caliphate from a place called Damascus.

Is the following statement true or false? Abd al-Rahman was an important person in the Islamic world in the 8th century.

True or false? That is true, but let's justify our answer.

In other words, let's give a reason why we say that statement is true.

Is it because: A, he was a royal member of the Abbasid Caliphate who ruled from Baghdad? Or B, he was a royal member of the Umayyad Caliphate who ruled from Damascus? The answer is B, Abd al-Rahman was a member of the Umayyad Caliphate who ruled from Damascus.

Well done if you got that right.

Let's find out more about this fascinating time in Islamic history and what an exiled Umayyad prince's part in it was.

In the 8th century, the Umayyad Dynasty was a powerful ruling family in the Islamic world.

But who were they and why were they so important? The Umayyad Dynasty ruled over a vast empire that stretched from Spain in the West to parts of India in the East.

It was a huge area.

The Umayyad Dynasty came to power in 661 CE and their capital was in Damascus, which is in present-day Syria.

The Umayyads were known for their strong and organised government.

They built many important structures such as roads, bridges, and buildings to help connect their vast empire.

This made it easier for people to travel, trade, and share ideas.

The Umayyad Dynasty also played a crucial role in spreading Islam.

They helped the religion grow and reach new parts of the world.

They promoted learning and culture, bringing scholars together to study subjects like science, maths, and literature.

However, not everything was peaceful during the Umayyad rule.

There were conflict and struggles for power and it was a very dangerous time for the Umayyad family.

In 750 CE, their rivals, the Abbasids, overthrew the Umayyads and killed many members of the Umayyad family.

A prince of the Umayyad Dynasty called Abd al-Rahman had to flee for his life and managed to escape Damascus.

He journeyed westward, a long and difficult journey across deserts and seas.

He faced many challenges along the way, and eventually, he arrived in Al-Andalus, which is in present-day Spain, and was then under Muslim rule.

In Al-Andalus, Abd al-Rahman showed that he was a strong and powerful leader.

The region was not united, and there were many different Arab rulers who were in charge.

Abd al-Rahman saw an opportunity to bring the people together and create a new strong government.

In 756 CE, he successfully overthrew the existing Arab leaders in Cordoba and established a new Islamic empire known as the Umayyad Emirate of Cordoba, with himself as the emir, which means leader.

Abd al-Rahman's capture of Cordoba was the start of one of the most culturally significant Islamic states in Europe at the time.

As emir, Abd al-Rahman started many important projects.

He began the construction of the Great Mosque of Cordoba, which became one of the most famous and beautiful buildings of the time.

He also encouraged learning and culture, inviting scholars, artists, and scientists to his court.

Under Umayyad rule, Cordoba flourished as a centre of art, culture, and learning equal to Baghdad.

Let's check for understanding.

Complete the following sentences correctly using the same keyword.

After his family had been executed, Abd al-Rahman fled from Damascus to mm.

Later, he overthrew the existing Arab leaders in Cordoba, a city in mm, and established the Umayyad Emirate of Cordoba with himself as the emir.

And the missing keyword is Al-Andalus.

Well done if you've got that correct.

We are now ready for the first learning task of this lesson.

It says, place the events in the life of Abd al-Rahman in the correct order by numbering them one to five.

One has been done for you.

And the events are: He fled From Damascus to Al-Andalus.

He was a prince of the Umayyad Dynasty.

He became the emir of the Emirate of Cordoba.

The Abbasid Dynasty overthrew and killed his family.

Under his rule, Cordoba flourished as a centre of art, culture, and learning equal to Baghdad.

Pause the video here, and when you are ready for the answers, press play.

Let's find out what the correct order of the events in the life of Abd al-Rahman are.

One, he was a prince of the Umayyad Dynasty.

Two, the Abbasid Dynasty overthrew and killed his family.

Three, he fled from the Damascus to Al-Andalus.

Four, he became the emir of the Emirate of Cordoba.

Five, under his rule, Cordoba flourished as a centre of art, culture, and learning equal to Baghdad.

So the numbers are 3, 1, 4, 2, 5.

Great work.

The second learning cycle of this lesson is entitled Cultural Similarities with Baghdad.

The period of Umayyad rule in Cordoba had many similarities to Baghdad where the rival Abbasids ruled.

During the Islamic Golden Age, Baghdad was known for inviting and welcoming Christian and Jewish scholars to come and share their knowledge and ideas.

The Christian and Jewish scholars worked together with Muslim scholars at places like the House of Wisdom, where they translated important books and talked about science, medicine, and philosophy.

Let's reflect on what we have just learned.

Explain to your learning partner how these words about the Islamic Golden Age are linked.

Baghdad, Christian and Jewish scholars, House of Wisdom.

Here is an example of an explanation.

Baghdad invited and welcomed Christian and Jewish scholars to come and share their knowledge and ideas.

They worked together with Muslim scholars in the House of Wisdom to translate books and discuss science, medicine, and philosophy.

Well done.

In Cordoba, Christians and Jews were also welcomed as scholars and intellectuals.

This means that people from different religions could live, work, and study together.

They could practise their religions freely, which created a very diverse and vibrant community.

The Great Mosque of Cordoba, for example, served as a place of worship as well as a centre of learning.

The Great Mosque housed a vast library with thousands of books and manuscripts.

Scholars from all over the world came to study and share their knowledge there.

Cordoba's colleges offered studies in a wide range of subjects such as philosophy, medicine, maths, astronomy, and law.

In both Baghdad and Cordoba, scholars were encouraged to exchange ideas and innovations.

This means that they shared their discoveries and learned from each other.

Because of this exchange of knowledge, there were significant advancements in various fields.

For example, scholars made important discoveries in medicine that helped people live healthier lives.

They also made advancements in astronomy that helped them understand the stars and planets better.

Let's check for understanding.

Explain to your learning partner how these words about the Islamic Golden Age are linked.

Cordoba, Christian and Jewish scholars, Great Mosque of Cordoba.

Here is an example of an answer that you could have given.

Cordoba invited and welcomed Christian and Jewish scholars to come and share their knowledge and ideas.

They worked together with Muslim scholars to translate books and discuss science, medicine, and philosophy.

The Great Mosque of Cordoba served as a place of worship as well as a centre of learning.

Well done if your answer was similar to this one.

We are now ready for the second learning task of this lesson.

Read Aisha's statement below.

Do you agree or disagree? Explain why.

She says, "During the Islamic Golden Age, only Baghdad was a hub of learning, culture, and innovation." Pause the video here, and when you are ready to reflect on the answer, press play.

Your answer could have included the following.

"I don't agree with Aisha.

Like Baghdad, Cordoba invited and welcomed Christian and Jewish scholars and they were encouraged to exchange ideas and innovations, leading to significant advancements in various fields.

This meant that Cordoba was also a hub of learning, culture, and innovation." Great work.

The third learning cycle of this lesson is entitled Architectural and Artistic Influences.

Cordoba was a centre for art and learning, and it was famous for its exquisite craftsmanship, particularly in jewellery and architecture.

Artists in Cordoba created beautiful pieces of jewellery using a variety of materials, including precious metals and stones.

One of the materials used in jewellery was Chinese jade, which was valued for its quality and beauty.

The use of Chinese jade in Cordoba's jewellery highlights something very interesting.

Cordoba had links with extensive trade networks.

This means that Cordoba was connected to far away regions, just like Baghdad.

These trade networks allowed the exchange of luxury goods and artistic techniques from different parts of the world, making Cordoba's art unique and diverse.

Let's check for understanding.

Change one word to make the statement correct.

Cir was a centre for art and learning, known for its jewellery made from Chinese emeralds.

Did you spot the mistake? Were you able to correct it? Cordoba was a centre for art and learning, known for its jewellery made from Chinese jade, not emerald.

Well done.

Mosques are places of worship for Muslims and they were an important feature in both Cordoba and Baghdad, but the architecture of the mosques differed between the cities.

In Cordoba, the architecture of mosques, like the Great Mosque of Cordoba, reflects a blend of various cultural influences including Visigoth, Roman, and Syrian styles.

The Visigoth influence can be seen in horseshoe-style arches.

The Visigoths were the people that ruled Cordoba after the Western Roman Empire collapsed and before the Umayyads arrived.

Let's check for understanding.

Which of the following students is explaining who the Visigoths were? A, Lucas says, "The Visigoths were a Roman tribe known for their architecture." B, Andeep says, "The Visigoths were a Germanic tribe that settled in what is now Spain and Portugal after the fall of the Roman Empire." C, Sophia says, "The Visigoths were an Egyptian dynasty that built the pyramids." And the correct answer is B, Andeep.

"The Visigoths were a Germanic tribe that settled in what is now Spain and Portugal after the fall of the Roman Empire." Well done if you got that correct.

The Roman influence in the mosques is evident in the use of columns, domes, and large open spaces.

One of the most noticeable features is the use of columns.

The Great Mosque of Cordoba has many columns and some of them were actually reused from Roman buildings.

A long time before the Umayyad Emirate was established, the Romans built great structures in Cordoba.

When the Umayyads started building the Great Mosque, they took some of the beautiful Roman columns and used them in the mosque.

This helped to make the mosque both beautiful and strong.

The early Islamic architecture of the Umayyad Caliphate had its roots in Syria and also played a significant role in shaping Cordoba's mosques.

It included the use of large prayer halls, extensive courtyards and ornate decorative elements, which were integrated into Cordoba's mosques.

Let's consolidate what we have just learned.

Label the Visigoth, Roman, and Syrian features of the Great Mosque of Cordoba.

One of the features is the horseshoe arches, which is the Visigoth style.

There was also a large prayer hall, which is a Syrian influence, and the columns which were Roman.

Well done if you managed to include all those labels.

This blend of influences in Cordoba contrasted with the architectural influences seen in Baghdad, which were primarily Persian.

Baghdad was heavily influenced by Persian culture and architecture.

One of the main features of Persian architecture is the iwan, a large rectangular hall or space that is usually vaulted and open on one end.

The iwans were often decorated with intricate and elaborate designs, showing the Abbasid appreciation of Persian art and architecture.

This style was different from the blend of influences seen in Cordoba.

Our last learning task of this lesson says, write one sentence under each of the headings to compare Baghdad to Cordoba during the Islamic Golden Age.

The headings are: hub of learning and culture, trade with different regions, and architecture.

Pause the video here, and when you are ready to reflect on the answers, press play.

Your answer could have included the following.

Hub of learning and culture.

Both cities invited Christian and Jewish scholars to visit and they encouraged the exchange of ideas and innovations.

Trade with different regions.

Both cities traded with China.

Cordoba was known for its Chinese jade jewellery.

Architecture.

Cordoba was influenced by Visigoth, Roman, and Syrian styles.

Baghdad used Persian influences.

Well done if your answer was similar to this.

We have now come to the end of this lesson about Baghdad and Cordoba, but before we go, let's summarise what we have learned.

Cordoba, a city in Al-Andalus, became a centre of art and learning after being captured by the exile Umayyad prince Abd al-Rahman.

He fled from Damascus in 750 CE and established the Umayyad Emirate of Cordoba in 756 CE.

Under his rule, Cordoba became a significant cultural and intellectual centre, welcoming Christian and Jewish scholars and creating environments of learning and innovation.

The Great Mosque of Cordoba, a key example of the city's architectural achievements, reflected a blend of Visigoth, Roman, and Syrian influences, contrasting with Baghdad's Persian architectural style.

Well done for working so hard during this lesson.

I've enjoyed accompanying you on this learning adventure and I hope to see you again very soon.