In Spain a prince who escaped a massacre built the biggest city in Western Europe, and Jews, Christians and Muslims shared its books. Meanwhile, the two sides were also fighting along every border.
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Students will explain how Muslim rule in Spain brought cultures into contact, describe what Cordoba was like, and explain how growing conflict between Christian and Muslim powers set the stage for the Crusades.
Trade and conflict went on together, and the lesson says so without making either side a villain. The book covers the conflict only lightly in these pages, so the setup (711, 732, the Christian kingdoms of the north and the Seljuk Turks) is added from the historical record.
The lesson stops before the Crusades, which are Unit 4, Lesson 3. It ends on the Byzantine emperor's call for help in 1095.
U2-L7 turns to Western Europe in the early Middle Ages, where monasteries kept learning alive while the cities emptied.
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Before You Start
The words this lesson uses. Tap a card to see what it means, then come back to them whenever a question uses one.
Part One
Questions about the story you just read. Pick your answer straight off, or press Find it in the story if you would rather hunt for the sentence first.
Part Two
The word cards are at the top of this page. Look back at them as often as you need, then answer.