Ages 13-16

Grade 8-10
In the beginning of the 8^th century a force of Arab Muslims crossed the Straits of Gibraltar and extended the empire began by the prophet Muhammed into mainland Europe. At its height, the Caliphs controlled all of Portugal, most of Spain, and even some of France. Under the Caliphate, the conquered peninsula grew into a centre of culture and education, leading the entire continent in science and mathematics. Great poets, philosophers, and teachers contributed greatly to human knowledge as major advances in trigonometry, astronomy, and medicine. Over the course of 700 years, we will watch a multicultural society evolve and eventually succumb to invasions and internal strife and leaving behind a complicated and beautiful legacy.