Lesson video
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Hello, everyone.
How are you today?
I hope you're feeling really good.
My name is Ms. Afzal, and I'll be your teacher for this lesson.
I'm feeling pretty pleased about that, 'cause I think we've got an interesting topic ahead today.
We'll be looking at Cordoba.
Do you know this place, Cordoba?
And we'll be looking at Cordoba in the 11th century.
That's the title of our lesson.
Our lesson comes in the unit of work, 11th-century Islamic worlds: how similar were the regions of the Islamic world?
So if you are ready to get into this topic, if you have some energy, focus, and enthusiasm, we'll begin our lesson now.
The outcome for today's lesson is I can describe what Cordoba was like in the 11th century and explain how it differed from Baghdad.
I hope that sounds interesting to you.
We have a couple of keywords in our lesson.
Let's go through them saying them out loud, one at a time, my turn, your turn.
Scholars.
Architecture.
Good to hear those keywords.
And now I'd like you to turn to someone and share with them, have you heard of either of these keywords before?
Do you know what these keywords mean?
Pause here and share with someone.
Thanks for sharing your understanding of these keywords.
Let's find out what they mean.
Scholars are people who have studied a subject and know a lot about it.
Architecture refers to the design and style of buildings.
So these are our keywords, scholars and architecture.
Let's look out and listen out for them.
Let's think carefully about these keywords that will be coming up in our lesson today.
Our lesson is called Cordoba in the 11th century, and it has three learning cycles: Different Islamic worlds, Cordoba, and Cordoba and Baghdad.
Let's begin by exploring Different Islamic worlds.
Historians talk of Islamic worlds, not an Islamic world.
The Abbasid Caliphate was not the only Islamic state in the 11th century.
The Caliphate in Cordoba was just one of many Islamic states.
Cordoba is located in modern-day Spain.
Here we can see on the globe the location of Cordoba in modern-day Spain.
This is the location of the Cordoban Caliphate, and we can see where this is in terms of Western Europe.
There's the Mediterranean Sea.
Oh, what a beautiful place.
What a beautiful sea.
And we can see the location of Baghdad.
Let's have a check for understanding.
Which statement is most accurate?
Choose from this selection: A, the Abbasid Caliphate was the only medieval Islamic state; B, the Abbasid Caliphate and Cordoban Caliphate were the only medieval Islamic states; C, the Abbasid Caliphate and Cordoban Caliphate were two of many medieval Islamic states.
Pause here while you decide which statement is most correct.
Well done if you selected answer C.
Indeed, the Abbasid Caliphate and Cordoban Caliphate were two of many medieval Islamic states.
This statement is the most accurate.
Let's have another check for understanding.
Where was the Cordoban Caliphate located?
Choose from this selection: A, Central Asia; B, Middle East; C, North Africa; D, Western Europe.
Pause here while you decide, where was the Cordoban Caliphate located?
Well done if you selected answer D.
Indeed, the Cordoban Caliphate was located in Western Europe.
And here again we can see a globe showing Cordoba's location.
Cordoba did not accept the religious and political leadership of the Abbasid caliphs in Baghdad.
Cordoba had their own caliphs.
Let's have a check for understanding.
True or false?
Cordoba respected the leadership of the Abbasid caliphs.
Pause here while you decide, is this statement true or false?
Well done if you selected false.
And now I'd like you to justify your answer by choosing from one of these two statements.
A, Cordoba also declared itself to be a caliphate; B, Cordoba was loyal to Christian kings in Europe.
Pause here while you choose which of these statements justifies your earlier answer.
Well done if you selected statement A.
Indeed, Cordoba also declared itself to be a caliphate.
This statement justifies your earlier answer.
And now it's time for your first task.
Here's a question for you.
Why do historians studying the 11th century use the phrase Islamic worlds rather than Islamic world?
Include the following words as part of your answer: Abbasid, Cordoba, religion.
So pause here while you have a go at this task of answering the question, why do historians studying the 11th century use the phrase Islamic worlds rather than Islamic world?
Enjoy your task, and I'll see you when you're finished.
It's good to be back with you.
How did you get on with that task of explaining why historians studying the 11th century use the phrase Islamic worlds rather than Islamic world?
Your answer may have included something like this: although Muslims share a common religion, historians studying the 11th century use the phrase Islamic worlds because there were differences between Muslims themselves.
In particular, there were many different Islamic states in the medieval period.
For example, in the 11th century, as well as the Abbasid Caliphate which was ruled from Baghdad, another caliphate existed in Western Europe which was ruled from Cordoba.
Well done if you answer looked something like this.
Well done for having a go at this task.
And now we're onto our next learning cycle, Cordoba.
Here we can see a photo of an astrolabe, which is a tool for navigation made by al-Zarqali.
Pause here and share with someone any details you notice on this astrolabe.
Thanks for sharing what you noticed about this incredible tool for navigation.
Let's have a check for understanding.
How big was Cordoba?
Choose from this selection: A, the largest city in Europe; B, second largest city in Europe; C, third largest city in Europe; or D, fourth largest city in Europe.
Pause here and share with someone, how big was Cordoba?
Was it the first, second, third, or fourth largest city in Europe?
Well done if you selected answer B.
Indeed, Cordoba was the second largest city in Europe.
Let's have another check for understanding.
True or false?
Scholars in Cordoba studied a wide range of subjects.
Pause here while you decide if this statement is true or false.
Well done if you selected true.
And now I'd like you to justify your answer by choosing from one of these two statements.
A, scholars studied Islam, Christianity, and Judaism, but rarely spent time on other subjects; or B, scholars studied religion and other subjects, including groundbreaking work in medicine and navigation.
Pause here while you decide which of these statements justifies your earlier answer.
Well done if you selected statement B.
Indeed, scholars studied religion and other subjects, including groundbreaking work in medicine and navigation.
This statement justifies your earlier answer.
Here we can see a photo of Cordoba's Great Mosque.
Pause here and share with someone some details you notice in this image.
Thanks for sharing.
And again, we can see on the globe where Cordoba is located.
Let's have a check for understanding.
Which statement most accurately describes Cordoba's trade?
Choose from this selection: A, Cordoba was involved in very little trade; B, Cordoba traded a lot with both Europe and North Africa; C, Cordoba traded a lot with both the Middle East and Central Asia.
Pause here while you decide which statement most accurately describes Cordoba's trade.
Well done if you selected statement B.
Indeed, Cordoba traded a lot with both Europe and North Africa.
Let's have another check for understanding.
Write the missing word.
One of the main things traded in Cordoba was, people.
Pause here while you complete this sentence by filling in the missing word.
Well done if you completed the sentence with the word enslaved.
One of the main things traded in Cordoba was enslaved people.
And now it's time for your next task.
Describe one way in which historians can tell that Cordoba was closely connected to other places in Europe and North Africa.
Ensure that your answer includes a specific example.
So pause here while you have a go at this task of describing one way in which historians can tell that Cordoba was closely connected to other places in Europe and North Africa, and don't forget to include a specific example in your answer.
Pause here while you have a go at this task, and I'll see you when you're finished.
It's good to be back with you.
So how did you get on with that task of describing one way in which historians can tell that Cordoba was closely connected to other places in Europe at North Africa?
You will have included a specific example in your answer.
Your answer may have looked like this: historians can tell Cordoba was closely connected to other places in Europe and North Africa because of its architecture.
For example, the Great Mosque in Cordoba used styles which were used in other cities like Seville, Rabat, and Marrakech.
Well done if you answered in this way.
And now we're onto our final learning cycle, Cordoba and Baghdad.
Here we can see on the globe Cordoba's location in what is modern-day Spain.
To compare Cordoba and Baghdad, historians can focus on the following areas: size, politics, influences, and learning.
So let's begin with looking at size and location.
So here we can see a map of medieval Baghdad.
Over 300,000 people lived in Cordoba and 500,000 people lived in Baghdad.
Baghdad was the largest Islamic city in the world by the 11th century.
Let's have a check for understanding.
Which city is best described by the following statement: it was the largest Islamic city in the 11th century.
Choose from this selection: A, Baghdad; B, Cordoba; C, both.
Pause here while you decide which city is best described as being the largest Islamic city in the 11th century.
Well done if you selected Baghdad.
Indeed, this was best described as being the largest Islamic city in the 11th century.
We can compare Cordoba and Baghdad by looking at their politics.
Baghdad was the capital of the Abbasid Caliphate.
Cordoba did not accept Abbasid leadership.
Cordoba was the capital of the Cordoban Caliphate.
Let's have a check for understanding.
Which city is best described by the following statement: it was the capital city of a caliphate.
Choose from this selection: A, Baghdad; B, Cordoba; C, both.
Pause here while you decide which city is best described as being the capital city of a caliphate.
Well done if you selected answer C.
Indeed, both Baghdad and Cordoba could be described as being capital cities of caliphates.
We can compare Cordoba and Baghdad by looking at their influences.
The Persian influence was very strong in Baghdad.
It had a round layout, as we can see in this map.
The Mediterranean influence was very strong in Cordoba, where there was the Great Mosque.
Let's have a check for understanding.
Which city is best described by the following statement: its architecture was influenced by the Persians.
Choose from this selection: A, Baghdad; B, Cordoba; C, both.
Pause here while you decide which city's architecture is described as being influenced by the Persians.
Well done if you selected Baghdad.
Indeed, its architecture was described as being influenced by the Persians.
Let's have another check for understanding.
Which city is best described by the following statement: its architecture was influenced by Mediterranean styles.
Choose from this selection: A, Baghdad; B, Cordoba; C, both.
Pause here while you decide which city's architecture was influenced by Mediterranean styles.
Well done if you selected Cordoba.
Indeed, Cordoba's architecture was described as being influenced by Mediterranean styles.
We could compare learning in Cordoba and Baghdad.
Baghdad was a center of learning, with the House of Wisdom and Al-Nizamiyya.
Cordoba was a center of learning.
It had the royal library and leading scholars.
Let's have a check for understanding.
Which city is best described by the following statement: it was considered a center of learning.
Choose from this selection: A, Baghdad; B, Cordoba; C, both.
Pause here while you decide.
Well done if you selected both.
Indeed, Baghdad and Cordoba were both considered centers of learning.
Let's have another check for understanding.
Which city is best described by the following statement: it had a university, the Al-Nizamiyya.
Choose from this selection: A, Baghdad; B, Cordoba; C, both.
Pause here while you decide which city had the university the Al-Nizamiyya.
Well done if you selected Baghdad.
Indeed, this city had the university the Al-Nizamiyya.
And now it's time for your final task.
How similar were Cordoba and Baghdad in the 11th century?
Pick a statement which is most accurate.
Cordoba and Baghdad were exactly the same.
Cordoba and Baghdad were somewhat similar.
Cordoba and Baghdad were completely different.
And then write one paragraph to support your chosen statement.
So pause here while you have a go at this task.
I'll see you when you're finished.
So how did you get on with that task?
First of all, which statement did you pick as being most accurate?
Hopefully this one, Cordoba and Baghdad were somewhat similar.
And how did you get on with writing a paragraph to support your statement?
Your answer may have included something like this.
Cordoba and Baghdad were somewhat similar in the 11th century.
Baghdad was larger than Cordoba, as its population was 500,000 compared to 300,000.
However, Baghdad was the capital of the Abbasid Caliphate and Cordoba was the capital of the Cordoban Caliphate.
This meant both cities were very important.
Well done for having a go at this task.
In our lesson, Cordoba in the 11th century, we've covered the following.
There were many different medieval Islamic states, including the Cordoban and Abbasid Caliphates.
Historians discuss Islam in the 11th century by talking about different Islamic worlds.
Cordoba was a center of learning in Western Europe, and was home to many leading scholars.
Cordoba was an important center of trade for Europe and the Mediterranean.
These areas also influenced its architecture.
Cordoba shared similarities to Baghdad and the Abbasid Caliphate, but still had some differences to the eastern Islamic world.
Well done, everyone, for joining in with this lesson.
I thought it was so interesting to find out about Cordoba in the 11th century, how it was such a home for trade, for scholars, and incredible architecture.
I really enjoyed teaching you, and I hope you enjoyed this lesson too.
I'll see you at another lesson soon.
Bye for now.
