Women in al-Andalus (711-1492)

Throughout the existence of Muslims in the Iberian Peninsula for more than eight centuries, the Andalusian civilization, which has developed and diversified with the differences it contains, stands before us as a treasure that needs to be examined in all aspects, despite the political turmoil, destructions, lost lands, and the rebellions and occupations that the region is frequently exposed to. With this rich structure, it is known that women, who constitute half of the society, exist with their remarkable and distinctive positions in the scientific, political and social fields in the history of al-Andalus. In the light of the information in the sources, it is known that Andalusian women have made significant contributions to the Andalusian civilization as individuals who are active in social life, can influence politics, have a say in science and literature, practice their profession and work. In this study, which consists of an introduction and four parts, the activities and positions of women in politics, family, economy and palace life, who lived during the period from the Muslim conquest of al-Andalus in 711 until the end of their political domination in 1492, are given. The first part of the study is devoted to the naming of Andalusian women. In this way, it is understood who the Andalusian women are and with which names and qualifications they appear in the sources. In the second part, which focuses on the position of women in family life, issues such as types of marriage, position of women in family relations and property rights are discussed. The status of women in Andalusian society and their visibility, their activities in working life and their activities in religious life are discussed. In the last part of the study, the active roles of dynastic women in Andalusian political life are mentioned with examples in a chronological manner.