Almohads

The Almohads, also known as Al-Muwahhidun, were a Berber Muslim dynasty that emerged in the Atlas Mountains of present-day Morocco in the early 12th century. Rooted in a reformist movement led by Ibn Tumart, they preached strict tawhid and sought to reform both religious practice and political life. After Ibn Tumart’s death, Abd al-Mu’min consolidated power and established a caliphate that expanded beyond the Maghreb.

The empire at its height controlled large parts of northwest Africa and extended into the Iberian Peninsula (Al-Andalus). Marrakesh served as the central seat of government. The Almohads pursued centralized administration and military strength to unify disparate regions, and they supported ambitious architectural projects in major cities. Their era is associated with monumental mosques and fortifications, including works in Marrakech and Seville, which left a lasting imprint on Islamic architecture.

In Iberia, the Almohads faced resistance from Christian kingdoms and internal challenges. Over the course of the 13th century, most of Al-Andalus fell to Christian powers, with Seville among the notable losses in the mid–late 13th century. In North Africa, the dynasty declined under pressures from rival powers, and by the late 13th century the Marinids displaced the Almohads, capturing Marrakech in 1269 and ending Almohad rule in most territories.

Legacy: The Almohads left a lasting architectural and cultural imprint in the Maghreb and Al-Andalus, influencing mosque design and urban planning. They also contributed to Berber political identity in the region and interacted with scholars, though their orthodoxy sometimes brought persecution of philosophers and dissenters.