Almoravid Dynasty: Map & History
The Almoravid dynasty was a Berber Muslim dynasty centered in the territory of present-day Morocco.
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The Almoravid dynasty was a Berber Muslim dynasty centered in the territory of present-day Morocco. It established an empire that stretched over the western Maghreb and al-Andalus, starting in the 1050s and lasting until its fall to the Almohads in 1147.
Modern Countries Once Part of Almoravid Dynasty
At its mapped extent, Almoravid Dynasty covered territory in 6 present-day countries. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
- Western Sahara1056–1138 CE · nearly all
- Morocco1056–1151 CE · nearly all
- Mauritania1056–1138 CE · a large part
- Portugal1094–1151 CE · a large part
- Spain1094–1151 CE · a large part
- Algeria1072–1138 CE · a small part
States and Provinces
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Almoravid Dynasty's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Almoravid Dynasty in Depth
History
The Almoravids, sometimes called "al-mulathamun" ("the veiled ones", from litham, Arabic for "veil") trace their origins back to several Saharan Sanhaja nomadic tribes, dwelling in an area that stretches between the Senegal River in the south and the Draa River in the north. The first and main Almoravid founding tribe was the Lamtuna. It occupied the region around Awdaghust (Aoudaghost) in the southern Sahara according to contemporary Arab chroniclers such as al-Ya'qubi, al-Bakri and Ibn Hawqal. According to French historian Charles-André Julien: "The original cell of the Almoravid empire was a powerful Sanhaja tribe of the Sahara, the Lamtuna, whose place of origin was in the Adrar in Mauritania." The Tuareg people are believed to be their descendants.
Military organization
Abdallah ibn Yasin imposed very strict disciplinary measures on his forces for every breach of his laws. The Almoravids' first military leader, Yahya ibn Umar al-Lamtuni, gave them a good military organization. Their main force was infantry, armed with javelins in the front ranks and pikes behind, which formed into a phalanx, and was supported by camelmen and horsemen on the flanks. They also had a flag carrier at the front who guided the forces behind him; when the flag was upright, the combatants behind would stand and when it was turned down, they would sit.
Al-Bakri reports that, while in combat, the Almoravids did not pursue those who fled in front of them.
Culture
The Almoravid movement started as a conservative Islamic reform movement inspired by the Maliki school of jurisprudence. The writings of Abu Imran al-Fasi, a Moroccan Maliki scholar, influenced Yahya Ibn Ibrahim and the early Almoravid movement.
Amira Bennison describes the art of the Almoravid period as influenced by the "integration of several areas into a single political unit and the resultant development of a widespread Andalusi–Maghribi style", as well as the tastes of the Sanhaja rulers as patrons of art.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Almoravid dynasty (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Almoravid Dynasty: Key Facts
| Capital | Azougui |
|---|---|
| Official language | Berber |
| Religion | Islam |
| Form of government | monarchy |
| Currency | Almoravid dinar |
| Founded | 1040 |
| Dissolved | 1147 |
Preceded by
- taifa (first period)
- Taifa of Granada
- Taifa of Ceuta (1061-1084)
- Lordship of Valencia
Succeeded by
- Almohad Caliphate
- taifa (second period)
Facts from Wikidata Q75613 (CC0).
Almoravid Dynasty Map Over Time
Dated world maps on which Almoravid Dynasty appears, with the other states of the time.
Almoravid Dynasty Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 1,923,812 km² in 1118 CE.
Almoravid Dynasty: Frequently Asked Questions
When did the Almoravid Dynasty exist?
The Almoravid Dynasty is dated to 1056 CE – 1205 CE, in the High & Late Middle Ages era.
What was the capital of the Almoravid Dynasty?
The capital of the Almoravid Dynasty was Aghmat (1058–c. 1070), Marrakesh (c. 1070–1147).
How large was the Almoravid Dynasty at its peak?
At its peak in 1118 AD the Almoravid Dynasty covered about 1,923,812 km².
How did the map of the Almoravid Dynasty change over time?
The Almoravid Dynasty appears on 2 dated world maps in the atlas, from 1100 CE to 1200 CE. Each shows its borders in that year next to the other states of the time.
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