The Almohad Caliphate

PAX MONGOLICA : THE STEPPE EMPIRE OF THE MONGOLS HIST 1301 | History The Almohad Caliphate Islamic Iberia was a complex tapestry woven from the 1170s by the Almohad Caliphate, whose power spanned the continent. However, there were cracks of unrest and dissatisfaction behind the surface of power. Originating from the Imazighen (Berber) tribes of what is now southern Morocco, the Almohads struggled to unify Muslim loyalty throughout the heterogeneous terrain. Though impressive, their ascent was not without internal difficulties. Tribal associations exerted considerable power, giving preference to members of the Almohad for positions of leadership and financial advantages. Such differences sowed the seeds of discontent within the caliphate's ranks by inciting animosity among those excluded from the tribe. Though the Almohads enjoyed widespread support among Muslims in North Africa and Iberia, their hold on power was shaky as seen by the periodic outbursts of rebellion. Pope Innocent III mediated a ceasefire between the Christian kingdoms of Iberia at the beginning of the thirteenth century, inspiring them to join the crusade to retake the region from Muslim dominion. The battle that followed at the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa in 1212 was a turning point in history because the Christian armies crushed the Almohads' military might and caused disarray among their ranks. Without a successor, the Almohad caliph's death threw the Muslim nations of Iberia into a lengthy civil war from which they would never fully recover. With the fall of the Almohad, the Christian kingdoms of Iberia's previously cohesive front started to deteriorate due to internal strife and competing goals. However, taking advantage of the power vacuum created by the fall of the Almohad, each kingdom set out on a path of autonomous growth, progressively encroaching on former Almohad lands. By the late 1260s, Iberian territory had changed dramatically, with Muslim rule reduced to an enclave around Granada, which accounted for only 5% of the peninsula's total area. The threat of Christian domination lingered even inside the shrinking boundaries of Muslimheld territory. Realising how vulnerable they were, the Granadan monarchs decided to become vassal rulers of Castile in an attempt to maintain their independence. The shift signalled a new reality for the Muslim population living under Christian control, one marked by a careful balancing act between accommodation and prejudice. The restoration of preAlmohad Islamic rule provided some familiarity, but the segregation required by the church highlighted the oppressed situation of non-Christians. Edicts requiring Muslims to wear unique clothing were implemented in an effort to reduce interfaith conflict and operate as outward symbols of social stratification. Furthermore, financial burdens imposed by Christian church taxes further cemented the Muslim population's inferior status. However, in the midst of religious strife, areas of tolerance developed that permitted the persistence of Islamic customs and the pursuit of livelihoods in Christian territories. Muslims were employed by Christian businesses, even though they were not allowed to work in Christian homes; this illustrates the complex relationship between cohabitation and divide. It was completely banned for Christians and Muslims to be married, which is a symbol of the long-standing obstacles that keep religious division alive. Similarly, conversion efforts encountered fierce resistance, highlighting the inflexible lines dividing religious communities. Even in the face of seeming tolerance, discrimination remained a threat as the Christian hegemony attempted to impose its will over Iberia's diverse population.