The Impact of Treason/Betrayal in Al-Andalus on Cultural and Intellectual Life During the Almohad Era (541 AH–667 AH / 1146–1268 CE)

Abstract

Throughout its long history, Andalusia was exposed to numerous factors of weakness, the most prominent of which were political betrayal and internal discord, which played a pivotal role in the decline of Islamic rule in the Iberian Peninsula.

This research paper focuses on examining the direct impact of political betrayal on cultural and intellectual life in Andalusia, specifically during the Almohad era (541-667 AH / 1146-1268 AD). The research aims to shed light on how betrayal and internal dissensions contributed to the destabilization of the Almohad state and the dismantling of its structures, negatively impacting its intellectual and cultural fabric.

The study reveals that political betrayal was not limited to its military and political impact; it was also a major cause of:

1. The migration of scholars and thinkers, as the educated elite sought more stable and secure environments.
2. The disruption of education and intellectual censorship, which led to the decline of academic institutions.
3. Loss of intellectual freedom: Intellectuals were subjected to political persecution, leading to the erosion of the Andalusian intellectual and cultural fabric.

The study also examines the long-term consequences of the collapse of Andalusian thought during this era, emphasizing that internal disintegration not only ended an era that could have been a cultural peak but also contributed to the transfer of Andalusian scientific and cultural heritage to the European world, which was preparing for its own renaissance.