Some have pointed out that the "Duero Desert” idea is very outdated and inaccurate. Fair enough—I’ve said before I’m no expert. But instead of quote-tweeting me to pile on, why not help me improve the map?.

Noticed a couple of spelling mistakes bugging me nonstop… so here’s the fixed map

I hope ths helps show the complex realities of medieval Iberia, and explains how, in different periods, Christian kingdoms served as vassals or allies of Córdoba’s caliph, while some Muslim rulers allied with Christian kings against Muslim rivals—a feature of the long Reconquista

Removing these frontiers leaves the core and most prosperous regions of al-Andalus: the Guadalquivir valley—political heart under the Umayyads in Córdoba—and the Mediterranean corridor, where cities like Valencia, Murcia, and Almería thrived in trade and agriculture.

The southern plateau centered on Toledo combined a fortified urban core with strong local elites (including muladí and Mozarab groups) and a history of asserting local power. These conditions made control from Córdoba difficult, with defiance recurring when authority weakened.

In the western frontier, the area of present-day Badajoz often enjoyed intermittent autonomy. At times under powerful local warlords, it alternated between loyalty and rebellion toward Córdoba, making lasting control over the surrounding lands a challenge for central authority.

Territories along the Ebro River, centered on Zaragoza, often operated as a semi-autonomous frontier. At times under powerful local dynasties, including the Banu Qasi, they shifted between alliances, rebellions, and direct control from Córdoba, often challenging central authority

Very early the Northern Plateau became a sparsely populated buffer zone, sometimes called the Duero Desert. It marked the frontier between al-Andalus and the Christian north, where strategic depopulation and constant raids kept it unstable and hard to control for centuries.

It’s true that under the Caliphate reached a high point of territorial unity. My map does not dispute that. It simply highlights—based on my own readings—regions whose long-term dynamics made their later breakaway into Taifa kingdoms during times of weakness a predictable outcome

I often see on X maps showing the “maximum extent” of the Muslim conquest in Iberia. Depending on the context, these can be misleading, overlooking an important reality: chronic regional tensions within al-Andalus that began soon after the conquest. Here’s a quick map I made.

Congratulations to all the recipients at last night's #EisnerAwards !!! #SDCC It's the "Oscars" of the comic book industry. Our series AZTEC EMPIRE was honored with a nomination for Best Digital Comic. Read it for free on our BigRedHair website.

Big and based if true

🇲🇽🚄 President Sheinbaum will build TWO NEW TRAIN LINES from Mexico City to the U.S. border, connecting most major cities along the way.

A Nahuatl-dubbed Dragon Ball Super scene.

🇮🇷Irã vs Israel🇮🇱

Panorama Sul Americano

Real “the goths are the Romans now” hours