Baghdad and Cordoba
I can compare Baghdad with another major Islamic city: Cordoba.
Baghdad and Cordoba
I can compare Baghdad with another major Islamic city: Cordoba.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Cordoba was part of Al Andalus, Muslim Spain, when it was captured by the exiled Umayyad prince Abd al-Rahman.
- Although ruled by the Abbasid’s rivals, Cordoba had many similarities to Baghdad.
- It was a centre for art and learning, known for its jewellery made from Chinese jade as well as its great colleges.
- Christian and Jewish scholars were encouraged to visit Baghdad; in Cordoba Christians and Jews worshipped freely.
- Cordoba’s mosques mirrored Visigothic, Roman and Syrian styles, in contrast with Baghdad’s Persian influences.
Keywords
Al Andalus - Al-Andalus was the Muslim-ruled area of the Iberian Peninsula, including modern-day Gibraltar, Portugal, Spain, and Southern France
Abd al-Rahman - Abd al-Rahman was the founder and first emir of the Emirate of Córdoba, ruling from 756 to 788 CE
Emir - an emir is a ruler or king in Islamic countries
Emirate - an emirate is a region or territory ruled by a leader called an emir
Visigoth - the Visigoths were a Germanic tribe of Goths from regions in what is now Eastern Europe. They settled in what is now Spain and Portugal in the 5th century CE
Common misconception
Baghdad and Cordoba were identical in their cultural and architectural influences during their respective golden ages.
Baghdad was influenced by Persian, Greek, and Indian cultures. In contrast, Cordoba, part of Al-Andalus, had a unique blend of Islamic, Christian, and Jewish influences, contributing to its distinctive architectural styles and cultural heritage.
To help you plan your year 5 history lesson on: Baghdad and Cordoba, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 5 history lesson on: Baghdad and Cordoba, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 history lessons from the Early Islamic civilisation: what connected Baghdad to the wider world? unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Licence
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
main language spoken
main religion
shape of the city's layout
Christianity
Judaism
Islam
Exit quiz
6 Questions
ruler of an empire
ruler of a kingdom
ruler of a caliphate
ruler of an emirate