VOCABULARY UNIT 5

1. Ummayad: it was a caliphate which ruled al-andalus.
2. Caliphate of Damascus: it's the main goverment which ruled all the territories.
3. Caliphate of Cordoba: it was the most brillant period of al-andalus.
4. Al-Andalus: it was the name of the territories conquered by the muslims.
5. Jews: they are a group of people who played a significant role in the economy.
6. Emirate: it was a territorie ruled by a emir under the Ummayad Caliphate of Damascus.
7. Emir: he was the person goverment the emirate.
8. Walis: they controlled the provinces ther were employees of the caliph.
9. Visir: he was the minister.
10. Hayib: he was the primer ministre.
11. Raids: there were attacks sent by the al-mansur to the christians.
12. Taifas: they was small kingdoms formed after al-mansur died
13. Parias: they were taxes which were paid by the muslims to the christians.
14. Almoravids: they were berber warriors from North Africa they went to the Iberian Peninsula to stop the christian advance.
15. Almohads: they were also berbers came to power in 1147.
16. Battle of Navas de Tolosa: it was held in 1212 it was won by the christian who defeat the muslims in this war.
17. Nasrid Kingdom: it was the last muslim territor. It was governed by the Nasr family.
18. Dinar: it was the coin used in the transactions. It was the gold.
19. Dirhem: it was the other coin used in the trade. It was the silver.
20. Arabs: they were the most powerful group of the poblation. They had the best land and were in charge of goverment.
21. Berbers: they were the other most powerful group after the arabs. They sometimes reveled.
22. Muladies: they were christians who adopted the religion, language and customs of islam.
23. Mozarabs: they were christian who continued to practise their religion.
24. Medina: it was the main area of the muslims cities, which contained the most important buildings.
25. Aljama:it was the main mosque located in the Medina.
26. Mosque: it was the most important building for muslims here they held their religius rites.
27. Arrabales: they were worker's districts, where the craft workshops were located.
28. Alcázar: it was the center of political life. It was located in the highest part of the city
29. Souk:it was the center of the social and economic life.
30. Alhóndigas: they were warehouses where the merchants kept their goods.
31. Averroes: he is a person very intellectual.
    
32. Maimonides: he is a other person very intellectual
33. Horseshoe arches: it was to use for supported the islamic buildings.
34. Plasterwork: they used for decorated the islamic buildings.

MARCO POLO'S JOURNEYS

Marco Polo began his famous expedition to China in 1271. He travelled by ship, camel caravan and on foot. He and his crew had a long journey - they began from Venice then went to Arabia, Jerusalem, Acre, Turkey, Hormuz, Central Asia, Kashmir, Mongolia and China, where they were able to trade and learn about a new culture.

When Marco Polo was in China, he became the trusted servant of the great Kublai Khan, the ruler of the huge Chinese empire. He learnt about the customs and structure of Mongol society as well as the geography of Asia. Marco Polo and his crew returned to Italy in 1295. He brought back knowledge about coal, paper money, printing and porcelain. He also returned with fabulous gems like pearls, diamonds, rubies and jade. as well as other products such as silk and gunpowder. Marco Polo introduced Europeans to the splendors of Asia. He also paved the way for later exploration and inspired many artists, poets and writers with his stories.