The Great Mosque of Fez: A Medieval University

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the architectural and intellectual legacy of the Marinid dynasty in Fez, focusing on the Qarawiyyin University and the Bou Inania Madrasa. We examine how Fatima al-Fihri founded one of the world's oldest degrees-granting institutions in 859 CE, and how the Marinid sultans transformed Fez into a center of Islamic learning through patronage of scholars like Qadi Iyad. The conversation details the specific architectural innovations of zellige tilework, the layout of the madrasas, and the political strategy behind establishing these centers of education as tools for consolidating state power against the Almohads and Hammadids. Listeners will learn about the role of the Mellah, the study of Maliki jurisprudence, and the enduring impact of these medieval structures on modern Moroccan identity. #MarinidDynasty #FezMorocco #Qarawiyyin #BouInaniaMadrasa #FatimaAlFihri #IslamicArchitecture #ZelligeTilework #NorthAfricanHistory #MedievalUniversities #MalikiJurisprudence #QadiIyad #MellahJewishQuarter #MaghrebHistory #AlAndalusLegacy #SultanAbuInanFaris #KairouanUniversity #IslamicGoldenAge #History Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo