Middle Ages

Al-Andalus
At the beginning of 8th century, Muslims conquered the Iberian Peninsula.
Muslims entered into the Iberian Peninsula in 711 though the Strait of Gibraltar, defeated Visigoths and invaded Guadalete.
They conquered cities as Toledo, the Visigoth capital. Tariq and Muza, muslim military generals took control over almost the hole Peninsula in only seven years.
The only territories Muslims didn't conquered were Asturias and Cantabria so, a few Visigoth nobles and clerymen and a very small part of the general population moved there.
Muslims gave the territories conquered on the Peninsula the name of Al-Andalus. This became a province, or dependent emirate of the Umayyad Caliphate of Damascus and it's capital was Cordoba.
When Abbasids of Badhgad killed the last Umayyadd caliph, Abd ar-Rahman I, refuged in al-Andalus.
He declared himself emir and gained independance from the Caliphate of Baghdad in 756. The Independant Emirate experienced a period of econmic and cultural development.

Middle Ages

Have a look to this web, it great. A bit mire about Muhammad en others  Click here!

This is a video explaining 3 things about Islam which most people don't but, I don't relly agree with the lastest part.  See and comment.

Middle Ages

Islam

Islam was created by Muhammed. Muhammad was a merchant in Mecca, Arabia. He knew Cristianity and Juidism. He moved to Medina because people thought Islam was dangerous so he was persecuted. After six years, he returned with a powerful army. He conquered Arabia and Islam expanded quickly.
Islam had only one god called Allah. Their sacred book was called Koran. There were five obligations which islamic followers had to do, the five pillars:

1. Shahadah:to testify 'there is no other God but Allah and Muhammad is his prophet'.
2. Salah: to pray 5 times a day.
3. Hajj: to go on a pilgramage to Mecca at least once in their lifetime if possible.
4. Sawm: to fast during the month of Rammadan.
5. Zakah: to give alms to the poor.

Islam was extended though jihad or holy war. Nowadays, only extremist groups believe in this idea.