![[Almohad_dynasty_en.svg.png]] In Mediterranean Africa, a new Muslim dynasty was established by Muhammad ibn Tumart (c. 1080–1130), a charismatic Berber scholar from the High Atlas Mountains in southern Morocco. After studying in Córdoba and Baghdad, and being influenced by Al-Ghazali's mysticism, Ibn Tumart adopted an stricter, puritanical interpretation of Islam. He vehemently rejected what he saw as the Almoravid Caliphate's lax jurisprudence, incorporation of Berber customs, and tolerance of anthropomorphic descriptions of God. Around 1121, Ibn Tumart openly declared himself the Mahdi (the guided one who would restore true Islam), condemning luxury, music, wine, and figurative art, and demanding moral reform. After early clashes with the Almoravids (including being expelled from Marrakesh), Ibn Tumart waged guerrilla war from the mountains. He died in 1130, but his successor Abd al-Mu'min proclaimed himself Caliph in 1133 and systematically conquered the Almoravid empire. He conquered Marrakesh in 1147 and the rest of north Africa to the edge of Egypt; then al-Andalus in 1172, where he moved his capital to Seville. Although the early rulers were quite puritanical, later caliphs supported philosophers such as Ibn Rushd (1126-1198) who was chief physician to the court as well as being the most significant commentator on the works of Aristotle. ![[Andrea_di_bonaiuto,_apotesosi_di_san_tommaso_d'aquino,_11_averroè.jpg]] ----- Next: [[12.7 - Saladin]] Back: [[12.5 - Timbuktu]]