The Reconquista

Dánnielly Gúzman Jimena Martinéz

Spain under the moors
Many writers refer to Moorish rule over Spain spanning the 800 years from 711
to 1492 yet this is a misconception. The reality is that the Berber-Hispanic
Muslims inhabited two-thirds of the peninsula for 375 years, about half of it for
another 160 years and finally the kingdom of Granada for the remaining 244
years.

When Fernando III died the reconquest seemed to die with him and the deal
struck over Granada would last for another two centuries. In 1479 the merger
of the kingdoms of Castile and Aragon under Los Reyes Católicos (Fernando and
Isabella) would soon lead to the fall of the kingdom of Granada and the end of
Moorish rule in Spain.
 The moors
The Moors introduced many new crops including the orange, lemon,
peach, apricot, fig, sugar cane, dates, ginger and pomegranate as well
as saffron, sugar cane, cotton, silk and rice which remain some of
Spain's main products today.

the Moors made significant contributions to fields such as

mathematics, astronomy, and medicine, which had a lasting impact
on Europe's intellectual development and brought the continent from
the Dark Ages into the Renaissance.
 The Reconquista
The Reconquista is the historic about that Christian kingdoms waged against the Moors
from the 8th century until 1492, in order to recapture the Iberian territories which were
lost due to the Umayyad conquest of Hispania.

Though the beginning of the Reconquista is traditionally dated to about 718, when the
Christian Asturians opposed the Moors at the Battle of Covadonga, the impulse toward
reconquest was expressed only sporadically through the first three centuries of
Muslim hegemony. After a failed invasion of Muslim Spain in 778, in 801 Charlemagne
captured Barcelona and eventually established Frankish control over the Spanish March,
the region between the Pyrenees and the Ebro River. Asturian kings, presenting
themselves as the heirs to the Visigothic monarchy that had ruled Spain prior to the
Muslim conquest, capitalized on dissension within the Moorish ranks and expanded their
holdings in the late 9th century. The Reconquest might have taken root at that earlier
date had it not been for a resurgence in the power of the Córdoban caliphate and a
break between the Christian kingdoms of Castile and León in the 10th century.
 Spain After The Reconquista
After the reconquista, there were people in the kingdom who pushed for expansion
on North Africa. The most important one was Cardinal Cisneros (Francisco Jiménez
de Cisneros - Wikipedia) who led the conquest of Oran (1509) and Tripoli (1510).
Local kings swore loyalty to the kingdom of Spain.

However, a disater in a expendition against Djerba (1511) was a hard setback, and
then Italy took precedence. Cardinal Cisneros died, and the conquest of North Africa
policy was not followed on. However, the Spanish crown still tried to ensure that
even if not conquered, the local kings would be loyal to Spain - see for instance, the
very big expedition against Tunis (1535) - Conquest of Tunis (1535).

It’s only in the second half of the XVI century where Spain was unable to attend
everywhere (America, The Low Countries, Italy, the turks) and North Africa slipped
out of control.