Al Andalous and the Almohades period

The Almohades period (1133-1269) was particularly brilliant in many ways: the sciences, arts, letters and maritime trade. They progressively took possession of Fes, Tangiers, Seville, and Marrakech. Their itinerary took for its point of departure an important Village in the High Atlas Mountains called Tinmel, which then pas ger, Seville, Marrakech. Their itinerary took for its point of departure an important village in the High Atlas Mountains called Tinmel, which then passed by Marrakech. Further north, the Almohades favored seveiftl Atlantic ports, namely Safi, Azemmour, Anfa, Sale, from where their heavily loaded boats departed, crammed with cereals destined for the cities of Andalusia. Next to the ruins of Chella, which dated from the 3rd century, they founded Rabat, and they made their way by Ksar el Kebir and Tangiers. Beyond Gibraltar, their route continued on to Granada and then beyond the upper basin of the Guadalquivir River.

Originally a minority tongue, the Arab language in that era not only revealed a new religion through the holy book of the Koran, but was as well spoken by the Mozarab Christians, who preserved their faith under the Muslim domination, and the Jews. The process of arabization accelerated until the 9th century: the’ Arab language then symbolized erudition and refinement. It also evolved as the tongue of poets, philosophers, biographers, travelers and scientists.

The conception of cities surrounded by ramparts and punctuated by monumental ports, a civil architecture – houses surrounding patios, « bammams » – or religious architecture, decorative art – the use of calligraphy and forged iron grills – are the most tangible aspects of this common past. While the Middle Ages were in full stride, Arab urbanism was a reality: one need only recall the sewer systems and the lighting which existed in the cities of Al Andalusian in the 10′h century. .. More prosaically, crafts like gastronomy offered equally strong similarities.