Where was the Textile Fragment from the Reliquary of St. Librada produced?
This textile was produced in Islamic Spain, or the southern region of Spain. During the Middle Ages, partly in connection with the crusades, textile technology rapidly advanced and migrated across regions, often through the movement of craftspeople and their knowledge. As a result, new centers of textile production developed across Byzantium and eventually emerged in European countries like Spain and Italy. Before the crusades, textile production in Europe was far behind that of textile production in the eastern Mediterranean region and in the Middle East. However, at its height, Muslim Spain was a leading producer of luxury textiles in Europe. Despite the vast regions in which textiles were produced, silks with eastern influenced design remained highly sought after.
Taifa kings in competition with one another, looking to assert dominance and justify their position, invested in arts, culture, and science. Further, Taifa alliances with Christian kings often involved trading currency and commodities, such as fine silk textiles, for military protection. Consequently, Taifa states developed a particular area of knowledge and often specialized in an area of production. The Taifa of Almeria emerged as a major center for silk textile production. Its geographic positioning made it viable for a booming trade industry, contributing to Almeria’s industrial development.