For many scholars, from both the East and the West, Andalucía is a memory of fascination. From 711-1492, the Muslims conquered and occupied most of the Iberian Peninsula, leaving behind an indelible effect on the social,... [ view full abstract ]
For many scholars, from both the East and the West, Andalucía is a memory of fascination. From 711-1492, the Muslims conquered and occupied most of the Iberian Peninsula, leaving behind an indelible effect on the social, cultural, and institutional mores of the region. Islamic Spain was a political and cultural hub whose influence radiated across Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. Its major cities, including Cordoba, Granada, and Seville, were home to diverse populations from various ethnic and religious groups, including, among others, Arabs, Berbers, Mu’atazilin, Jews, and Christians, “bringing together… races and cultures under the unifying banner of Islam," and contributing to a rich body of scholarship and cultural development. The beautiful palaces, lush gardens, and towering mosques and libraries of Andalucía were a testament to the fertility and strength of the Islamic civilization that flourished on the Iberian peninsula.
As poets, scholars, doctors, lovers, and queens, the women of the Medieval Islamic Empires in Andalucía have received considerable attention for their power and freedom relative to their Eastern counterparts. Scholars have long debated whether this phenomena was the product of cultural clash, existing Islamic jurisprudence, or the natural sensuousness of Southern Spain. In my essay “The Women of Andalucía,” I explore the role of women through power structures, professional roles, and artistic settings. Using ancient poetry, legal scholarship, judicial proceedings, and historical records in both Spanish and English, I ultimately conclude that despite expressions of agency, women’s freedom was constrained by longstanding Islamic legal traditions and norms.
