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Culture Contact Between the Islamic East and the European West
Not only was Andalusia famous for its industry , but also for its trade because of its long coast line and ports overlooking the Mediterranean and the Atlantic ocean. Thus, it was called the" Andalusian Island".
Levante, the eastern province in Spain, was the most arabized Andalusian region with the deepest Islamic impact. Most of its place names are Arabic. This was also due to the activities of the Yemenis who were entrusted by the Umayyads with guarding it and developing their long maritime experience in the east. Hence it was called the Yemeni estate 'Urdh of Yemen'. Almeria was considered the main commercial base for this region and its merchants were so wealthy that one of them hosted chamberlain Al Mansur Ibn Abi Amer and his army for fourteen days. Geographers and travellers gave lengthy accounts of the most important Andalusian exports such as embroidered cloth, wool, dyes, silk, felt, thick paper, dried figs, golden porcelain, saffron, etc.