Alfoz (territory) facts for kids
The term alfoz (pronounced al-FOHZ) was used in Spain during the Middle Ages (around the 5th to 15th centuries). It described the countryside and smaller villages that were connected to and controlled by a main town. Imagine a central town acting like a capital, with all the surrounding farms and tiny settlements belonging to it.
This main town was called a villa (VEE-yah) in Spanish. The villa and its alfoz were managed by the town's local council, known as a concejo (kon-SEH-ho). Together, they sometimes formed an independent area called a Comunidad de Villa y Tierra (Community of Town and Land). This was a way for people to govern themselves locally. The main town usually had a castle and strong walls to protect everyone.
What an Alfoz Did
By the 1100s, the alfoces had several important jobs:
- Taxes: They collected money (taxes) from the people living in the area.
- Justice: They had their own courts to solve problems and make decisions about laws.
- Defense: They helped organize soldiers and protect the area from attacks.
The alfoz also allowed people to share land for farming and raising animals. This was called silvopastoral agriculture, where trees and pastures were used together.
Changes Over Time
Around the year 1100, kings and queens started giving parts of the alfoz land to the Church and to important noble families. This made the alfoz less useful for the local community, as they lost control over their shared land.
Alfoz Today
The idea of an alfoz and its villa eventually led to what we now call a municipality. A municipality is a town or city and its surrounding area, all governed by one local government.
The word alfoz comes from the Arabic word al-hawz, which means "rural district." You can still find the word alfoz in the names of some places in Spain today. Sometimes, it's even used as a common word to describe a rural area around a town.
See also
In Spanish: Alfoz (urbanismo) para niños
