For almost 800 years from 711 to 1492, Muslims controlled most of the Iberian Peninsula. This project examines the political evolution of Al-Andalus and Christian kingdoms during this time. Students will create a board game set on a map of the peninsula starting with the Battle of Guadalete in 711 and ending with the conquest of Granada in 1492. The game must include rules and at least 50 questions probing this crucial period of Iberian history.

1. Castles
Knigths
Christians and Muslims fighting and
collaborating

2. For almost 800 years, from 711 to 1492, Muslims controlled most of the territory of
the Iberian Peninsula. This occupation has left an important and unique legacy in our
history and culture.
What we are going to learn in this project:
• What happened to the Iberian Peninsula after the fall of the Roman Empire
• The Muslim invasions and life in Al-Andalus
• The first Christian kingdoms and their expansion towards the south (Reconquest)
CONCEPTS:
•Separation and fusion
•Coexistence and reconquest

5. First of all, analyze the first map and focus on the following questions:
1-In which year did the Muslims invade the Iberian Peninsula? How many years had passed
since the birth of this religion?
2- Who was ruling the Iberian Peninsula when the Muslims came?
3- In which battle did the Muslims defeat the Visigoths? When did it happen?
4-Why did the territories of the north of the Iberian Peninsula escape the Muslim invasion?

6. Now, focus on the second map:
5-Which Christian Kingdoms were founded between the 8th and 9 th centuries?
6- Where was the border between the kingdom of León and Al-Andalus at the beginning of
the 10th century?
7- Why do you think the county of Castilla was created?
8- What was the Spanish March?

7. 1- What main changes do you see between maps 1, 2 and 3?
2- How many kingdoms do you see on map 4? What happened to Al- Andalus?

8. RESOURCES FOR THE PROJECT
Videos and animations:
• http://e-
ducativa.catedu.es/44700165/aula/archivos/repositorio/500/618/html/Unidad_04/p
agina_4.html
•http://www.explorethemed.com/reconquista.asp?c=1
•Interactive map of the Reconquista:
•http://www.explorethemed.com/reconquista.asp?c=1
•The Mediterranean Empire of the Crown of Aragon. Interactive map.
•http://www.explorethemed.com/AragonMed.asp?c=1
•Iberian Peninsula during the Middle Ages. Evolution.
•http://contenidos.educarex.es/sama/2010/csociales_geografia_historia/flash/alanda
lus.swf

9. In this project, we are going to make board games about the Iberian Peninsula during the
Middle Ages. The game will have to include:
•A board,
•The rules to play
•At least 50 questions about the political evolution of Al-Andalus and the Christian
kingdoms of the Peninsula during the Middle Ages.
The only condition you have is that the board needs to be a map of the Iberian Peninsula
and that the game has to start at the Battle of Guadalete and finish in the conquest of
Granada.

11. Why was the county of Castilla created? Who
was the first independent count?
When and how did the Catalan
counties gain independence?
Who was the first king of the kingdom of
Aragón?
Who was Pelayo? What did he start?

12. Fernando III and Alfonso X el Sabio
When did they rule? What
territories did they conquer?
Who was Fernando I of Castilla?
When is the kingdom of
Portugal founded?
When was the kingdom of Pamplona created? Who
ruled the kingdom of Pamplona at its
greatest expansion? What happened after his death?
What happened in the year1492?

13. El Cid Campeador
Find information about this figure
http://www.biografiasyvidas.com/biografia/c/cid.htm - ES
http://www.aceros-de-hispania.com/El-Cid-Campeador.htm - ES
http://www.ctspanish.com/legends/elcid.htm - EN

16. Islamic Expansion
Civil War
Roderic
Battle of Guadelete
Al-Andalus
Dependent
Abd al-Rahman I
Independent Emirate of Cordoba
Caliphate of Cordoba
Abd al-Rahman III
Razzias
Conquerers
Arabs
Berbers
Mozarabs
Jews
Medina

17.  You need to research the Iberian peninsula during the Middle Ages and then create a
board game based on a map of the Iberian peninsula.
 The board game, it should have a board, the rules to play and at least 50 questions
related to the Iberian peninsula during the middle ages.
 The information should contain:
 The dates and events mentioned in the previous slide.
 Questions should be based on political evolution of Al-Andalus and the
Christian kingdoms of the Peninsula during the Middle Ages.
 The Board MUST be a map of the Iberian Peninsula.
 The game MUST start at the Battle of Guadelete.
 The game MUST finish at the Conquest of Granada.

18.  Students have researched the Iberian peninsula during the Middle Ages and then
created a board game based on a map of the Iberian peninsula.
 The board game had a board, the rules to play and at least 50 questions related to
the Iberian peninsula during the middle ages.
 They have included information regarding:
 The dates and events mentioned in the previous slide.
 Questions should be based on political evolution of Al-Andalus and the
Christian kingdoms of the Peninsula during the Middle Ages.
 The Board MUST be a map of the Iberian Peninsula.
 The game MUST start at the Battle of Guadelete.
 The game MUST finish at the Conquest of Granada.