Andalusia is derived from the Arabic word al-Andalus, which in turn comes from the Vandalic word Andalu or Wandalus.
Meaning:
Early Meaning: The original meaning of "Andalu" is unclear, but it is believed to have referred to a region in North Africa.
Medieval Arabic Meaning: In medieval Arabic, "al-Andalus" was used to describe the Muslim-ruled territory in the Iberian Peninsula (modern-day Spain and Portugal).
Spanish Meaning: In Spanish, "Andalucía" refers to the southern region of Spain that was once part of al-Andalus.
History:
Vandalic Period: The Vandals, a Germanic tribe, ruled North Africa in the 5th and 6th centuries CE and may have given their name to the region known as Andalu.
Muslim Conquest: In 711 CE, Muslim forces from North Africa invaded the Iberian Peninsula and established the Umayyad Caliphate of Córdoba. Al-Andalus became the name of the Muslim-ruled territory in the peninsula.
Reconquista: During the Reconquista, the Christian kingdoms of northern Spain gradually reconquered the territories of al-Andalus. By the 15th century, the only remaining Muslim kingdom was the Emirate of Granada.
Modern Spain: After the fall of Granada in 1492, al-Andalus became part of the unified Spanish kingdom. The name "Andalucía" continued to be used to refer to the southern region that had been the core of medieval al-Andalus.
