Bringing Berber empires into focus as contributors to Islamic culture

The Almoravid and Almohad empires flourished in the western Mediterranean of the 11th and 12th centuries. Despite controlling vast tracts of land, these Berber dynasties are little known in the English-speaking world. In her latest book, Dr Amira Bennison looks at the rise and fall of Berber empires that made a lasting contribution to the history of Islamic culture. A succession of powerful dynasties sprang from tribal societies who made their living from farming and herding. These empires forged their own interpretations of Islam and made their own individual marks on its history. Towards the end of the 12th century, a Berber prince called Ya'qub al-Mansur ordered a hospital to be built in the city of Marrakesh. The building has not survived but a description of it lives on.