Chapter 15. Tribes and Ethnicity

Abstract

Contribution to a book that will have a major impact on knowledge of al-Andalus in general and the Taifa period in particular. In this chapter, we analyze the relationship between tribes, ethnic groups, and Taifa kingdoms in al-Andalus, making use of all available sources (archeology, numismatics, history). Our conclusion is that the eleventh century presents us with a complex Andalusi society in full transformation, in which elements that evoke an ethnocultural plurality and population strata of diverse origins once again come to the fore.