Lesson 10: “The Jewel of the World” by Chip N. Hitti. The lesson discusses the overthrow of the Umayyad dynasty in Damascus by the Abbasid family in 750. Following their accession to power, the Abbasids mercilessly exterminated members of the defeated Umayyad house. Abd-al-Rahman, a remarkable young man of twenty, managed to escape the Abbasid purge. He was tall, lean, with sharp features and red hair.
Abd-al-Rahman fled to Spain, where he fought to establish and maintain the Umayyad dynasty, which had been eradicated in the East. The narrative recounts his dramatic escape, involving a daring river crossing with his younger brother. Unfortunately, his brother, a poor swimmer, returned to the bank and was killed, while Abd-al-Rahman successfully reached the opposite shore.
The youth faced numerous challenges, including hardships in Palestine and a close call with assassination in North Africa. After reaching Ceuta, he received refuge from his Berber maternal uncles. Crossing to southern Spain, he joined Syrian troops from Damascus stationed there, eventually becoming their leader. Despite resistance, he gradually brought all of Spain under his rule.
The Abbasid caliph in Baghdad appointed a governor to contest Abd-al-Rahman’s rule. In response, Abd-al-Rahman sent the caliph a gruesome gift: the preserved head of his appointed governor, accompanied by a fervent message of gratitude for the sea that separated them. This act solidified Abd-al-Rahman’s control over Spain.
- Chapter No. 15 Homeostasis 2nd Year Biology
- Chapter No. 16 Support and Movement 2nd Year Biology
- Chapter No. 17 Coordination and Control 2nd Year Biology
- Chapter No. 18 Reproduction 2nd Year Biology
- Chapter No. 19 Growth and Development 2nd Year Biology