This article examines the rise of Córdoba, a city of al-Andalus during the Umayyad period, and its role as a cultural center in the process of scientific development. During the reigns of the Umayyad rulers Abd al-Rahman I, Abd al-Rahman II, Muhammad I, Abd al-Rahman III, and al-Hakam II, their cultural policies led to the establishment of numerous scholarly institutions in the capital city of Córdoba, including libraries, mosques, and madrasas. In addition, a large number of books and scholars from the Mashriq (the Islamic East) arrived in the city. Particular attention is given to the major library built by al-Hakam II in Córdoba, highlighting its significant contribution to scientific advancement and its status as a major intellectual and cultural center. Furthermore, the article explores not only the political factors but also the social factors that contributed to Córdoba’s emergence as a center of learning.

Córdoba, Abd al-Rahman I, al-Hakam II, Great Mosque, Alcázar, Mashriq.

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