Almohad
- Scope note
- Refers to the art and culture associated with the Islamic Berber dynasty that ruled in North Africa and southern Spain (1130-1269). This period is notable because it was the first time the whole Maghrib was united under one dynasty. The Almohads rose up against the Almoravids in 1121 and conquered Marrakesh in 1147. The dynasty declined in power when it was defeated by Alfonso VIII in 1212, losing Andalusia, and in 1269 when they lost Marrakesh to the Berber Marinids. The Almohad courts at Marrakesh and Seville were centers of Islamic art and learning, especially philosophy. Almohad architecture is known for its juxtaposition of puritanically simple design with ornate decoration. Enormous congregational mosques were built in Seville, Rabat and Marrakesh. Simple interiors are relieved by voluptuous, lobed arches and other details. Repetitive use of an architectural unit such as an arcade or bay to create directed vistas and a deep sense of space is another typical feature. Austere exteriors strongly contrast with the richly decorated, gigantic square minarets (late 12th century) of the three mosques. These minarets are elaborately fenestrated and each face has different latticed designs done in raised stonework. The mosque of Tinmal, with its characteristically Maghribi T-shape, is considered to be an Almohad masterpiece. The location of the minaret behind the mihrab is an important innovation at Tinmal. Almohad mosques tend to be enlarged at the expense of their courtyards. Other arts such as bookmaking, metalwork, and luxury textiles flourished as well. Several copies of the Koran reveal that paper began to replace parchment during this period. A binding on a magnificent multi-volume Koran (1256) is the earliest dated example of gold tooling. Textiles, like bookbindings, show a taste for geometric patterns.
- Date of creation: 13-May-2024
Accepted term: 13-May-2024 
