(slides 13, 14) The leaders of the newly proclaimed caliphate in Andalusia used architecture as a way to signal their power, to show their religious devotion, and to make cultural connections between their rule and other parts of the Islamic Empire. As part of this lavish architectural patronage, they undertook the building of an immense palace-city complex about 4 miles outside of Cordoba. It is said that this palace was named Madinat al-Zahra or the City of Flower, because Abd al-Rahman built it for his favorite concubine, named Zahr. (Slide 14 offers an aerial view of the palace.) She was a slave from Eastern Europe who longed for the snow of her homeland. In order to please her, it is said that the Caliph built the palace and ordered the grounds to be planted with flowering trees and plants so that their white petals would console her homesickness. While this makes for a nice story, the probable truth behind the Caliph's actions were probably more political. He sought to make a direct challenge to the authority of the Abbasid Caliphate in Baghdad, who had built a suburban palace city of their own near Baghdad. Slide 13 depicts one of the palace's salons where the Caliph held audiences. From this salon, those present could enjoy carefully planned views of the terraces and gardens. The symbolic importance of these vistas represented the Caliph's power of the surrounding domains. The salon is built in such a way that only the Caliph, seated in his throne, enjoyed a perfect view. The Caliph's court was visited by dignitaries from across Europe. Cordoba was proclaimed as the center of an empire which could rival those of Cairo and Baghdad. The palace represented the theoretical power of the Andalusian state. The palace also became the center of the intellectual life of Andalusia. A number of court officials and intellectuals who enjoyed the patronage of the Caliph were Jewish. Families such as Samuel Hanagid's made fortunes and fame for themselves as ministers to the court and scholars. The court also supported the intellectual projects of Jewish writers and scholars such as Ibn Shaprut. The tenth century saw the beginnings of Hebrew literature in Andalusia. This literature used many of the themes and methods of Arabic literature. Private gatherings of intellectuals, both Jewish and Muslim, were held at the palace of Madinat al-Zahra. Back to slides