What's in a name? And how do you spell it, anyway?

Before we get much further into this blog I suppose that a little historical context is necessary to set the stage for what lies ahead over the course of the next couple of days.

Me:                    "How about we call the blog 'Andalusian Adventures'?"

El Estudiante:    "What's Andalusia?"

Me (thinking):    "I know what our first blog post is going to be about."

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Let's start with the name Andalusia itself. What does it mean and where did the name come from?

While we don't have the time or the space to go into the rich history of this region here are a few things worth noting about this part of the world. I would, however, highly encourage you to spend some time on your own exploring the rich history of this region on your own. There is no end to the available resources available to help you understand the significance of this little region and it's impact upon world history.

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Andalusia is the autonomous region of southern Spain, one of 17 of the country's such self-ruling states. It's capitol is Seville. The area that Andalusia now occupies was under Muslim rule until the late 15th Century (1492 to be exact). Andalusia (spelled "Andalucia" in Spanish) is the largest of Spain's autonomous regions and it's the one which evokes the most powerful images of a country famed for its flamenco, fiestas, bullfighting and raw passion.

The region’s name Andalusia is derived from the Arabic word Al-Andalus (الأندلس), which in turn may be derived from the Vandals (the Germanic tribe which colonized parts of Iberia from 409 to 429), the Goths or pre-Roman Iberian tribes. The toponym al-Andalus is first attested by inscriptions on coins minted in 716 by the new Muslim government of Iberia.

But why Arabic?

The Moors (Muslims) ruled Andalusia for roughly seven centuries, from the early 8th century to the late 15th century (1492, to be exact). They initially arrived in 711 AD and their presence in the Iberian Peninsula, including Andalusia, marked a significant period in European history, leaving behind a lasting cultural and architectural legacy.

Here's a really brief timeline of the Moorish rule:

• 711 AD: The Muslim conquest of the Iberian Peninsula began with the landing of Tariq ibn-Ziyad at Gibraltar, arriving from Africa.
• 711-718 AD: Within a few years, most of the Visigothic Kingdom, including Andalusia, came under Muslim rule.
• Early 11th Century: The Spanish Umayyad dynasty collapsed, and Al-Andalus, the Muslim-ruled territory, began to fragment into smaller kingdoms.
• 1492 AD: The Kingdom of Granada, the last Muslim stronghold in Spain, fell to the Catholic Monarchs, marking the end of the Reconquista. When they weren’t busy supporting the exploits of Christopher Columbus, Queen Isabella I of Castile and King Ferdinand II of Aragon, known as the Catholic Monarchs, played a key role in the Moors' departure from Andalusia, which concluded the Reconquista.

The influence of the Moors’ culture reached out far beyond Spanish borders, with the mighty cities of Sevilla, Córdoba, Granada and Cádiz being recognized throughout Europe and North Africa as centers of great learning, renowned for magnificent art and architecture, and homes to eminent scientists and philosophers. In the countryside, they also left behind sophisticated irrigation systems, testament to their skilled agriculture, and many pueblos blancos – white-painted hillside villages.

It's no wonder, then, that that allure of Andalusia continues to draw explorers, travelers, and historians to this day. So let’s get started on our adventures together, shall we?