The society of Al-Andalus

Andalusian society was made up of people with different customs and religions.
There was three main religious groups: Christians, Muslims and Jews.
The most powerful group was formed by the Muslim conquerors and their descendants, Arabs and Berbers.
The Arabs settled in the south and in the Ebro Valley in the northeast (best land) and they were in
charge of government.
The Berbers lived in the mountainous regions and the Central Plateau. They were more numerous,
but had fewer privileges. That is the reason why they sometimes rebelled.

The rest of the population was organised according to religious criteria:

The Muladies were Christian who adopted the religion, language and customs of Islam. Some did
this to avoid paying taxes (jyzya). In the 10th century a massive conversion of Christians took place.
The Mozarabs were Christians who continued to practise their religion. As they were not Muslims,
they paid jyzya. After the 9th century, many emigrated to the northern kingdoms, to escape
persecutions.
The Jews (5% of the population) played a significant role in the economy. There were important
Jewish communities in Toledo, Granada, Crdoba, Seville and Zaragoza. Jewish districts were
usually in a separate part of the city.

The treatment of non-Muslims were tolerant in general. Christians and Jewish were given the status of ahl
al-dhimma (the people under protection). Scholars and commentators who are interested in the
coexistence of Muslims and non-Muslims in the Andalusian society think that tolerance was an inherent
aspect of this society. Christians and Jewish people were allowed to practice their religion and live
according to the laws of their community.

Naturally, toleration varied according to who ruled; when the Almohads took Cordoba in 1148 they gave
the Jews a choice of conversion, exile or death, with Jews like Maimonides choosing exile.

Economic activity

Al-Andalus had a prosperous economy. Most of the population worked in agriculture. The main crops were
cereals, grapes and olives.
The Muslims introduced innovations, which had long-lasting consequences. First of all, they developed
irrigation techniques. A network of mills and canals brought water to dry land. Consequently, production
increased.
They also introduced new crops, such as cotton and indigo, a dye which was used in the textile industry.
In the cities, high quality craftwork was produced. The most important products were ceramics, leather
goods, gold and silverwork, weapons, dyes and silks. The Muslims also made magnificent wooden furniture
and screens, and ornate leather book bindings.
Al-Andalus was also the centre of very active trade. Andalusian crafts were sold in other regions of the
world. In exchange, the merchants bought slaves and gold. Two different coins were mainly used in these
transactions: the gold dinar and the silver dirhem.
Under Islam, cities were very important centres of economic, religious and cultural life. Muslim cities were
very extensive compared to those in other parts of Western Europe. For example, Crdoba had about
100.000 inhabitants, whereas London had less than 15.000.
The main area of the city was the medina, which contained the most important buildings, including the
aljama, or main mosque.
The religious life of the city was centred here. Around the medina there were the arrabales, or workers
districts, where the craft workshops were located.
The centre of political life was the alczar, a fortified area in the highest part of the city, where municipal
employees and authorities lived.
Social and economic life was centred on th souk, or market.
The merchants kept their goods in large warehouses, known as alhndigas.
The goods were distributed from there to local businesses.