Introduction to the Reconquest

1. UNIT 5
THE CHRISTIAN
KINGDOMS
Social Studies
2ºESO
Drawing created by
Cristina de la Vega
Lienhart. 3ºA ESO
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2. INTRODUCTION
In this unit you will learn further information about the
Christian Kingdoms in the Iberian Peninsula after the invasion of the
Muslims in 711 AD. Settled in the southern part of the country, the
Muslims quickly expanded their territory northwards. Once the Caliphate
of Córdoba was formed in 929, it became rich and powerful with a strong
army. This moment marks its period of splendor. Despite this fact, in
1031 the Caliphate collapsed into smaller taifas so the Christian kingdoms
sped up their expansion.
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3. 1. THE NORTHERN
KINGDOMS
After invading in 711, Muslims conquered almost all of the Iberian
Peninsula. However, a few Visigothic noblemen resisted in the
Cantabrian mountains. They eventually formed the kingdoms of Asturias,
León and Castilla.
In 795 Charlemagne invaded, and created the Spanish March (Marca
Hispánica) along the south of the Pyrenees, to protect his empire against
Al-andalus. As the Carolingian Empire got weaker, this area gradually
became independent. There were three main centres: Navarra, Aragón
and the Catalan counties.
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4. Almudena Corrales Marbán

5. Almudena Corrales Marbán

6. ASTURIAS AND LEÓN
In the Cantabrian Mountains, a Visigoth
nobleman called Pelayo resisted the Muslims.
According to the legend, he won the battle of
Covadonga in 722, and created the kingdom of
Asturias. This is considered the first Christian
kingdom in the north of Spain after the
Muslim invasion. Gradually the kingdom grew
until it reached the river Duero (natural borders).
It was renamed the kingdom of León.
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7. CASTILLA
Originally, Castilla was a county of
León, but in the 10th century, Fernán
González made Castilla
independent. In the 11th century it
became a kingdom under Ferdinand I.
Ferdinand united it with León in
1038.
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8. PORTUGAL
Portugal was initially a county of
the kingdom of Castilla y León.
In the 12th century, it declared
independence, and Alfonso
Henriques became the first king
of Portugal.
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9. NAVARRA
In the 9th century, the Arista
family founded a kingdom with
its capital city in Pamplona. At
first it was called the kingdom of
Pamplona, but later it was renamed
Navarra. The most important
king of Navarra was Sancho IV
(1004-1035), who controlled much
of northern Spain.
Later monarchs of Navarra
became related to French royalty
through marriage.
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10. ARAGÓN
Aragon was part of Navarra until the 11th
century. Then Ramiro I created an
independent kingdom, which soon grew
more powerful. In the 12th century it was
united with the Catalonian counties
(Condados Catalanes), giving birth to the
Crown of Aragon.
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11. CONDADOS CATALANES
(THE CATALAN COUNTIES)
In the 9th century Wilfred the Hairy
(Wilfredo el Velloso) gained control
of all the Catalan counties. The
Catalan counts continued to pay homage
to the French kings for quite a long time,
but in practice they were independent.
To know more about Wilfredo el Velloso:
http://www.biografiasyvidas.com/biografia/w/wifredo_i.htm
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12. REVIEW OF THE
CHRISTIAN KINGDOMS
Which kingdom is being described?
a) It was originally called Pamplona.
b)After independence, Alfonso Henriques was its first king.
c) It started off as a part of Navarre, but was eventually united with the Catalan counties.
d) It was originally part of León, but then it gained independence. Finally it was united with
León.
e) They paid homage to the French kings, although they gradually became more
independent.
f) It was the first Christian kingdom, and was eventually renamed León.
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13. 2. EXPANSION OF THE
CHRISTIAN KINGDOMS.
The Christian kings , who considered themselves the heirs of the Visigoth
kings, were constantly trying to expand their kingdoms southwards.
• In the begining, there were many small and weak Christian kingdoms in
the north. They were often fighting against each other.
• Meanwhile, the Caliphate of Córdoba was very rich and powerful, and
had a strong army.
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14. 2.1. THE EXPANSION
SPEEDS UP
• In 1031, the Caliphate collapsed into many smaller taifas. Each taifa was
much weaker on its own.
• Eventually, the Christian kingdoms united into bigger, more powerful
kingdoms. They started to cooperate, instead of fighting each other. The
best example of cooperation was the Battle of Navas de Tolosa in 1212,
were the Almohads were defeated. This event marked the beginning of
the last stage of Reconquest.
• The Christians started to call their war against Al-Andalus a holy war,
or a crusade, do you remember what is the meaning of «crusade»?
• People thought they had a religious duty to fight the Muslims.
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15. THE BATTLE OF NAVAS DE
TOLOSA 1212
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16. 3. THE ORGANISATION AND THE
ECONOMY OF THE KINGDOMS
3.1. POLITICAL ORGANISATION
The Christian kingdoms were feudal kingdoms: the king ruled with the
help of nobles who paid homage to him, and provided him with soldiers.
The Christian kingdoms were at war most of the time, so the nobles
were very powerful. The clergy also had many privileges.
• Later, the Cortes (parliaments) advised the kings on new laws and
taxes.
• People who lived in towns elected a town council to govern them .
Towns also had their own laws ans taxes. (Remember the concept of
FUEROS)
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17. THE CORTES
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18. 3. 2. ECONOMY
The Christian kingdoms were much less prosperous than Al-Andalus.
Most people were peasant farmers who lived in the countryside. The
towns were small, and their main purpose was being military bases
during the Reonquest. There were few artisans, and luxury goods were
imported from al-Andalus.
Later, these kingdoms became richer. Trade increases, and towns grew.
WHY?
• The Christian kingdoms exported merino wool to other countries.
Castilian wool was famous for its high quality.
• Artisans who had lived in Al-Andalus brought new skills and
technology to the north.
• The taifas paid tribute to the Christian kings.
IMPORTANT
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19. CASTILLA ARAGON
KING Powerful king King had less power
PARLIAMENT Weak parliament Parliament had more power
SOCIETY Mainly rural, with powerful
nobles
Many towns, with lots of
merchants and artisans
AGRICULTURE Sheep –farming for wool and
cereals.
Vines and Olives
INDUSTRY Mining Textiles and ship-building
TRADE Mainly with the Low
Countries
Mediterranean trading
routes.
CASTILLA VS ARAGON
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20. MERINO WOOL IN CASTILLA
MEDITERRANEAN
TRADE IN ARAGON
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21. 4. TOLEDO A CITY OF
THREE CULTURES
Toledo was the old Visigoth capital of Hispania. For many centuries it
was ruled by the Muslims, but in 1085 it was conquered by Alsonso
VI. Although it was known as a Christian city, there were also many
Muslims and Jews. It was therefore known as the city of three
cultures. These three cultures lived together peacefully, sharing
their knowledge and skills, so Toledo prospered.
The mixture of cultures encouraged learning in Toledo. As well as the
university, there was also a school of translators (Escuela de
traductores de Toledo) . Philosophical and scientific works were
translated into Latin from Arabic, Greek, an ancient Hebrew.
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22. ART IN THE CITY OF TOLEDO
Bib-al Mardum Mosque in
Toledo
La sinagoga del Tránsito, o sinagoga de
Samuel ha-Leví, situada en la ciudad de
Toledo, es un edificio del siglo XIV erigido
bajo el mecenazgo de Samuel ha-Levi en
tiempos del rey Pedro I
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23. 5. RELIGIOUS
PERSECUTION
• In the 14th century, the Christians started to persecute the
Muslims and the Jews. This was partly because of the Black
Death, which many people blamed on the Jews. People were
also envious of the Jews, because some of them had
important jobs in the government (some of them, doctors at
court), and because many of them were wealthy.
• In 1391, the Jewish quarters in several Spanish towns were
attacked by Christians, and many thousands of Jews were
killed.
• In the 15th century, the Catholic Monarchs proclaimed
Catholicism as the only religion. They promoted the
Inquisition, that persecuted Jews and Muslims. (you have read
about it in the book «Ferdinand and Isabella»)
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