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Maimonides was born in Cordoba, Spain, during the year of 1135. By this time Cordoba had become the world's capitol for Jewish life and culture. Maimonides' name at birth was Moses ben Maimon, but he was called Rambam and Maimonides, Greek for "son of Maimon", later in life. His hebrew name was Solomon ben Maimon. It is said that Maimonides was a descendant of King David, though this cannot be genetically proven.
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In this year, Cordoba is taken over by a Muslim Tribe. The new rulers did not tolerate the practice and teaching of Judaism, so the city was no longer safe for Maimonides' family. They are forced to leave the city and become "Wandering Jews" in the country of Spain.
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During these twelve years Maimonides traveled through Spain with his family. They had few possessions and little money. Finally, in 1160, they were able to settle in Fez, Morocco.
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Despite of ill-treatment towards Jews, Maimonides is able to train in the fields of theology and medicine. Because of these studies, Maimonides is able to later take up the job of a Rabbi, a Jewish priest.
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In 1165 Maimonides wrote the Letter Concerning Apostasy. This document reassured Jews that were pretending to be Muslim that they were still part of the Jewish community.
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Because of the publishing of his letter, Maimonides and his family are forced to move from Fez. In 1165 they leave by boat and head toward Palestine, Eretz Yisrael.
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Maimonides travels from place to place. He lives in Palestine; Alexandria, Egypt; and then moves to Fostat.
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In this year Maimonides completed a comentary to the Mishnah, a document containing traditional Jewish oral law.
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This was one of Maimonides' best documents. It was the first commentary to logically codify "halakhah".
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Is this writing Maimonides tried to reconcile Judaism and Aristotelian thought.
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Maimonides died in the year of 1204 on December 13. He was sixty-nine years old.
