Unit 5: Al- ANDALUS.

 Alcázar: a fortress within a Muslim city.

 Caliph (califa): the political and religous leader of all Muslims.

 Crusades (cruzadas): holy military expeditions by Christians to recover the Holy Land from the Muslims.

 Emir: a Muslim prince or noble who acted as a governor and had military authority.

 Hajib: a chief minister to the caliph.

 Hammam: a public bath in Al-Andalus.

 Hegira: start to the Muslim calendar, marking the event of Muhammad’s escape from Mecca to Medina in 622.

 Horseshoe arch (arco de herradura): a round arch common in Al-Andalus, typical of Islamic architecture.

 Islam: one of the world’s three great monotheistic religions that originated in the Arabian Peninsula in the 7th century.

 Jihad: a holy war fought for Islam.

 Medina: the walled centre of a Muslim city.

 Mihrab: a niche which shows the direction of Mecca.

 Mimbar: a pulpit on a mosque.

 Minaret (minarete): tower from which Muslims are called to prayer.

 Mozarab (mozárabe): a Christian in Al-Andalus who did not convert to Islam.

 Muladi: a Christian in Al-Andalus who converted to Islam and adopted Muslims customs.

 Multifoil arch (arco polilobulado): an arch with many foils, or leaves, cut into it.

 Paria: a tribute paid by taifas to the Christian kingdoms.

 Pointed horseshoe arch (arco apuntado de herradura): a round arch with a pointed top, common in Al-Andalus.

 Qibla: the direction of the Kaaba shrine in Mecca.

 Reconquest (Reconquista): the process of expansión of the Christian kingdoms across iberian Peninsula.

 Souk (zoco): a market in the centre of a Muslim city.

 Taifa: a small independent Muslim state in Al-Andalus.

 Visier (visir): a minister to the caliph.