UNIT 12: SPAIN IN THE MIDDLE AGES.

1.  THE GERMANIC INVASIONS AND THE VISIGOTH KINGDOM

 

The Middle Ages is the period of History that began with the fall of the Roman Empire in 476.During this time, the Iberian Peninsula (Hispania) was invaded by Germanic cultures like the Suevi, The Vandals and the Alans.

The Visigoths came soon afterwards dominating most of the Peninsula.

The Visigoths founded a Kingdom with its capital in Toledo. They learnt Latin, laws and Christianity from Roman culture.

The Visigoth Kingdom in Toledo lasted until the eighth century.

2.  AL-ANDALUS

A Muslim army from Arabia arrived at the Iberian Peninsula in 711.

They conquered the Peninsula except the northern mountains where the Christians took refuge.

They called their conquered territory Al-Andalus.

In the 10^th century Al-Andalus became a Caliphate, independent of Arabia. It´s capital was Cordoba.

Abderraman III was the first caliph. During this time, there were some important cities like Cordoba, Seville and Granada.

The Muslims introduced inventions like irrigation and some crops like rice, cotton.

There were also great philosophers who lived in Al-Andalus.

In the 11^th century the taifa Kingdoms were founded after the caliphate was divided into different territories.

VOCABULARY

FALL	CAÍDA
THE ROMAN EMPIRE	EL IMPERIO ROMANO
BC/AC BEFORE OR AFTER CHRIST	ANTES O DESPUÉS DE CRISTO
TO INVADE	INVADIR
GERMANIC CULTURES	CULTURAS GERMÁNICAS
THE SUEVI	LOS SUEVOS
THE VANDALS	LOS VÁNDALOS
THE ALANS	LOS ALANOS
THE VISIGOTHS	LOS VISIGODOS
TO FOUND	FUNDAR
LAWS	LEYES
TO LAST	DURAR
CENTURY	SIGLO
SOON AFTERWARDS	POCO DESPUÉS
THE MUSLIMS	LOS MUSULMANES
TO CONQUER	CONQUISTAR
TO TAKE REFUGE	REFUGIARSE
TO BECAME	CONVERTIRSE
A CALIPHATE	UN CALIFATO
A CALIPH	UN CALIFA
IRRIGATION	RIEGO
RICE AND COTTON	ARROZ Y ALGODÓN

 

ACTIVITIES

1. - Write the main characteristics of the Visigoth kingdom: The beginning, capital, culture and religion.

The beginning:

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.

Capital:

________________________________________________________.

Culture:

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ .

Religion:

________________________________________________________.

2. - Write the names of the Germanic cultures who invaded the Iberian Peninsula.

The Iberian Peninsula was invaded by:

3. - Fill in the gaps.

- The Middle Ages began in ____________ after the fall of the _______ ________________.

- The Iberian Peninsula was invaded by _______________________________________________________.

- The Visigoths founded a kingdom in _____________________.

- They learnt latin, laws and Christianity from ___________________ _______________.

- The Visigoth kingdom lasted until the ________________________.

4. - Write TRUE or FALSE.

- In 711 the Muslims arrived at the Iberian Peninsula.     _______

- They called their conquered territory Arabia.             _______

- Its capital was established in Seville.                      _______

- Its first caliph was Abderraman III.                       _______       

5. - When were the Taifa kingdoms created?

_______________________________________________________.

6. - Write the names of the Catholic Monarchs.

________________________________________________.

7. - When did the Muslims leave the Iberian Peninsula?

_______________________________________________________.

8. - Match the two columns.

The Nobility   *             *     was the maximum authority.

The Church    *             *     promised loyalty to the king.   

The King       *             *     founded monasteries.

 

9. - What was Feudalism?

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.