The Almoravid and Almohad Empires

The Edinburgh History of the Islamic Empires

by Amira K. Bennison

This is the first book in English to provide a comprehensive account of the rise and fall of the Almoravids and the Almohads, the two most important Berber dynasties of the medieval Islamic west, an area that encompassed southern Spain and Portugal, Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. The Sanhaja Almoravids emerged from the Sahara in the 1050s to conquer vast territories and halt the Christian advance in Iberia. They were replaced a century later by their rivals, the Almohads, supported by the Masmuda Berbers of the High Atlas. Although both have often been seen as uncouth, religiously intolerant tribesmen who undermined the high culture of al-Andalus, this book argues that the eleventh to thirteenth centuries were crucial to the Islamisation of the Maghrib, its integration into the Islamic cultural sphere, and its emergence as a key player in the western Mediterranean, and that much of this was due to these oft-neglected Berber empires.

Genres: History, Islam, Africa, Nonfiction, Medieval, Morocco, Military History

400 pages, Paperback

Published August 1, 2016

About the author

Amira K. Bennison became interested in the Middle East and North Africa while studying for her BA Hons in History and Arabic and Cambridge. After graduating, she went to live in Cairo for a year before studying for a Masters at Harvard University and a PhD at the SOAS.

Reviews

[Muawiyah Yousuf · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read several books on the Almoravid and Almohad Empires, and many of them fail to do justice to these two distinct Berber dynasties. Typically, they are lumped together and dismissed as a single "fundamental horde" that took over Andalusia. However, Amira's work stands out for clearly distinguishing between the two empires, highlighting their unique characteristics and separate historical trajectories despite their shared Berber roots. She covers key events often overlooked in other Berber-related texts, from the simple yet significant reasons behind the Almoravids' practice of veiling themselves, to the complex factors that led to the Almohads' defeat at the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa. It can be a bit textbook at times with all the lengthy names and their lineage.
Alongside this book, I would also recommend you to go over a couple of JSTOR articles for a more comprehensive understanding.

[Danny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Admittedly I had a hard time getting through portions of this book and it took me longer than it should have, but there are few other resources that can match its level of detail on the Almoravid and Almohad Empires.

[Jacob · Rating 3 out of 5]

Detailed, technical book looking at major themes, commonalities and differences between these two Islamic Berber Empires in the Maghreb. Bennison offers little for conclusions, which is mainly a result of the lack of sources, but it can be frustrating when most chapters end with generalized statements about change. There are a lot of interesting details and there was obviously a lot of time put into the project. The Empires themselves are fascinating. Veiled Almoravid warriors fighting in Andalusia would make a great movie.

[Nic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for review in an academic journal. Strong overview of an understudied and underappreciated pair of (short-lived) Berber empires.

[Alistair Antonopoulos · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellently written and researched account of the medieval Almoravid and Almohad empires.