The Almoravid Maghrib (Past Imperfect)

The Almoravid Maghrib uncovers the richness and complexity of a neglected past. A pivotal moment in the history of North Africa, the rise of the Almoravids brought a corner of the Maghrib into closer contact with the world around. From the Cid to the Seljuqs, the Almoravids impressed contemporaries in ways no Maghribi regime had, signalling a transformation of western North Africa through burgeoning trans-Saharan and trans-Mediterranean commerce, urbanization (two of Morocco's four imperial cities were founded), and the epic encounter with the Christian, Muslim, and Jewish cultures of Iberia. The Almoravids witnessed a series of key transformations and beginnings, including the introduction of one of the area's most successful gold currencies, the formulation of a new religious orthodoxy, the parallel rise of counter-movements (popular, messianic, and spiritual), and the inception of pan-Maghribi-Andalusi artistic, literary, and architectural styles. Cover 1 Contents 5 List of Illustrations 7 Acknowledgements 9 Abbreviations and Note onLanguage and Dates 11 Principal Charactersin the Narrative 13 Introduction 15 Chapter 1. The Preacher 21 Chapter 2. The Queen and Her Kings 41 Chapter 3. The Deposed 59 Chapter 4. The Son 79 Chapter 5. The Mahdis 99 Chapter 6. The Qadi and the Rebel 117 Conclusion 127 Time Line 131 Glossary of Key Terms 133 Further Reading 141