The Fall of the Caliphate of Cordoba: Berbers and Andalusis in Conflict (Medieval Iberian Peninsula, Vol 9)

This text is a discussion of the complex events which surround the breakup of the Muslim Caliphate of Cordoba in the early 11th century. The study focuses on quite a short period of time: 1009-1031, although a wide-ranging investigation of the political structure of Muslim Spain is embarked upon. A thorough narrative of the events is followed by separate discussions of some of the main groups involved in the civil wars: the Marawanids, the supporters of a legitimately-appointed Umayyad representative; the Saqaliba (Slavs); the Berbers; and the Christians of northern Spain. The book fills a gap in our knowledge of this hitherto little-understood period of Spanish history and tackles important questions, such as the attitude towards Berbers, tribal solidarity and the importance of land-reforms during the 10th century.