Cordoba in the 11th century
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can describe what Cordoba was like in the 11th century and explain how it differed from Baghdad.
Key learning points
- Cordoba was the centre of cultural life in the Cordoban Caliphate.
- Many ancient texts were translated into Arabic and Latin in Cordoba.
- Cultural and economic ties with North Africa were important in Cordoba.
- Buildings in Cordoba drew on influences from across the Mediterranean.
- Cordoba had some differences to the eastern Islamic world.
Keywords
Scholars - scholars are people who have studied a subject and know a lot about it
Architecture - architecture refers to the design and style of buildings
Common misconception
Pupils assume that all medieval Islamic states must have been identical to one another.
Islamic states had similarities and differences (i.e. Cordoba had many Mediterranean influences; Persian influence was stronger in Baghdad).
Teacher tip
In learning cycle 2, after reading about Cordoban involvement in the slave trade ask students to speculate how Cordoba may have participated in enslaving people. Reveal that most northern Europeans were Christian as a clue.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
Loading...
Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match up each keyword with the correct definition.
an Islamic political and religious leader
a male ruler in some countries
the head of the Catholic Church
Q2.Which country is located in Western Europe?
Q3.What was the capital of the Abbasid Caliphate in the 11th century?
Q4.Write the missing word. The year 1066 is part of the century.
Q5.Write the missing word. The year 832 is part of the century.
Q6.Which example best shows that Baghdad was a centre of learning in the 11th century?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.How large was Cordoba's population?
Q2.Which statement most accurately describes Cordoba's population?
Q3.Write the missing word. Many worked and lived in Cordoba, studying a wide range of subjects.
Q4.What type of trade was one of the biggest in 11th century Cordoba?
Q5.Which area influenced the architecture of the Great Mosque in Cordoba?
Q6.Which statement is most accurate?
To help you plan your 7 history lesson on: Cordoba in the 11th century, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 7 history lesson on: Cordoba in the 11th century, 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 3 history lessons from the 11th-century Islamic worlds: how similar were the regions of the Islamic world? unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.