Comments | little_details: Al-Andalusian Nobility

kiarasayre in little_details

Al-Andalusian Nobility

Jul 10, 2010 14:02

I'm writing (or attempting to, anyway) a story set in a fantasy world based on Al-Andalus, or Moorish Spain. More accurately, in one of the taifas, or smaller kingdoms, after the Caliphate of Cordoba fell apart, but before the Reconquista really got going (so somewhere between 1000-1300, I'd say). I've tried googling "daily life in Moorish Spain ( Read more... )

1100-1199, 1000-1099, spain: history, ~nobility (misc), 1200-1299, ~middle ages, 1300-1399

Comments 18

lydia_golis July 10 2010, 18:27:31 UTC

A very general political history is Muslim Spain and Portugal: A Political History of Al-Andalus by Hugh Kennedy.

There is also a novel called Isabella: A Girl of Muslim Spain that apparently incorporates a good deal of classic Islamic literature in the storyline.

kiarasayre July 11 2010, 00:13:10 UTC

Oooh, I'll definitely look into those - thanks! :D

randomstasis July 10 2010, 18:45:35 UTC

I can answer #2 off the top of my head by historical precedent- No, and yes, of course ( ... )

kiarasayre July 11 2010, 00:13:43 UTC

This is really helpful, thanks! :D

uozaki July 10 2010, 18:48:06 UTC

Ooh, watching the replies with great interest - I'm using a similar setting (though no dragons unfortunately).

kiarasayre July 11 2010, 00:14:03 UTC

Well, you know what they say about great minds... ;)

going_boldly July 10 2010, 19:17:44 UTC

Oooh! This is one of my favorite periods in history!

For starters, About.com's say on the subject. My understanding of the time period is that it would have been unusual for a woman to lead, but not unheard of. A general overview can be found here. If you'd like to emphasize your character's scholarship, I'd try looking up Walladah al-Mustakfi, who was a very famous female scholar in the period you're looking at. It's also worth noting that if your character has Berber roots, than either she or her mother would likely be considered the head of household, not her father/brother/husband.

For more general information, I'd take a look at Fordham's Primary Sourcebook. The Ornatment of the World: How Muslims, Jews, and Christians Created a Culture of Tolerance in Medieval Spain by Maria Rose Menocal is a helpful, if decidedly optimisic, book to read ( ... )

kiarasayre July 11 2010, 00:15:11 UTC

Awesome, thanks so much! :D

Managed to find some sources for you! randomstasis July 10 2010, 20:19:40 UTC

AFAIK, the taifas were less feudal than opportunistic kingdoms carved out of a dissolving empire- the same situation that created feudalism, in fact. So, although they were technically part of the empire and under that rule, in fact, they were independent, neither controlled nor supported by it ( ... )

sorry, can't fix the formatting that goes off the page! randomstasis July 10 2010, 21:24:38 UTC

third try, giving up now ( ... )

Re: sorry, can't fix the formatting that goes off the page! kiarasayre July 11 2010, 00:16:03 UTC

Holy crap, this is amazing! Thanks so much! :D