al-Andalusia's Water Raising Systems
Saqiya's were Egyptian in origin and were in use since 250 BC. Saqiya's were animal-powered waterwheels. The Moors introduced them to the Iberian peninsula. Thousands of Saqiya's pumped and supplied water to the vast Valencian Orchards
Norias were self-turning waterwheels. They were a large wheel, edged with scoops, that emptied their contents into a tank or aqueduct. They functioned alongside rivers with currents.
Ship Mills operated mid-stream, in swiftly flowing rivers, rendering the heavier work. There were four in the Guadalquivir River in Cordoba; three functioned until recently.
al-Jazari
A maestro-designer of many water pumps and water clocks of the 13th century. The suction-pump design was derived from al-Jazari's work. Renaissance piston pump designs originated from many Islamic designs.
How Important were Water-Powered Mills and Wheels?
Extremely - Whole Industries Thrived from Their Crushing or Grinding Abilities.
- Textiles: wool was compacted
- Metals: gold ores were crushed
- Paper Manufacture: fibres were crushed to pulp
- Wood Mills: Timber was sawn
- Agriculture: flour was ground, rice was husked, sugar-cane was pressed
Other Industries Arose
- Sugar refineries
- Production of Gunpowder
- Textile weaving: silk, cotton, specialising in Merino wool
- Steel production lead to ship building
- Paper manufacture
- Ceramics/Porcelain: losa dorada: lusterware tableware and glazed tiles
- Tanneries: Cordovan embossed leather work
- Inlaid marquetry
- Steel and Gold Manufacture.
- Granada was a major silk producer and of guns and knives
- Exquisite silks and brocades were woven in Almeria and Sevilla
- (Spanish Christians and European royals were enthusiastic clients for al-Andalus merchandises)
- Cordoba specialised in tapestries and leather work
- Toledo was famous for its swords, inlaid in gold and silver Damascene decor
- Malaga was famed for the quality silks and wool
- Salibat for paper production
- Almeria for glass manufacture and brass
- The Algarve was famous for its tiles
What was Introduced?
Moorish Agriculture introduced many plants, the most significant were sugar-cane and cotton. Diet, fashion and culture were revolutionized.
The Moors brought many new vegetables: aubergines, asparagus, spinach, and artichokes. New fruits appeared: Pomegranates, limes, lemons, oranges, melons, cherries, coconuts, peaches, strawberries, figs, pistachios and coffee. New crops: rice, hard wheat, maize, sesame. New spices: saffron, ginger, mustard, cloves, nutmeg, cumin and cinnamon.
Iberian peninsular vines and olive groves were improved on. Mulberry bushes were grown: the staple diet of the silk-worm.
Crops were cultivated for three basic reasons: General Consumption, Animal Foodstuff or for Fibre.
Soil Preparation
Organic growing ruled. Crops were harvested more times in al-Andalusia than in the any other European country. Spain became a green garden. The warm climate, however, was not the the reason why.
Every event was carefully documented. Soil was repeatedly analysed and studied for many, many years. Different manures were applied to distinct soils. Al-Andalus crop rotations spanned over a period of several years - unlike European crop systems. Land quality was re-optimized with regenerating plants.
Watching the Calender
Clocks and calenders fascinated the Arabs. Land timetables existed for watering times, prayer time and optimum harvest dates were always documented. Grafting: when-and-where was a speciality, equally: rising plant-sap and its repose periods, to know when to prune. A famous treatise on botany was published: the Cordova Calender. It cleverly linked agricultural important dates to Christian Holy dates.
Continuation
The snaking irrigation channels: acequias and water storage tanks: aljibes were built - by the farmers. They knew each section and how they had constructed them. Unlike the Roman army, who built, in place of the populace. The farmers would prove vital if something needed repairing. Landownership created a pride for caring the individual plots - Europe functioned under a feudal system and slaves had no pride in work done.
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Prosperity and well being thrived. The healthy diet of al-Andalusia created a population boom. It was water and the proper use of water that created an unsurpassed level of civilization that was unknown in Europe.
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