Almohad Caliphate الموحدون

1121 CE – 1269 CE · North Africa, Iberian Peninsula

North Africa, Iberian PeninsulaAsh'ari (with Zahiri influences)Zahiri (initially), Maliki (later)major

Berber reformist movement that overthrew the Almoravids; theological puritanism combined with patronage of philosophy (Ibn Rushd, Ibn Tufayl)

Capitals

Marrakesh, Seville, Rabat

Peak Era

1163–1199 CE (Reign of Abu Yaqub Yusuf I and Abu Yusuf Yaqub al-Mansur)

Historical Significance

Created the largest Berber empire in history, patronized the greatest Aristotelian philosopher in Islamic history (Ibn Rushd/Averroes), and built monumental architecture including the Giralda and Hassan Tower. However, the Almohads faced significant internal conflicts and challenges, including ideological dissent, tribal rivalries, and succession disputes, which ultimately contributed to their contraction and shaped their legacy in the region.

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