The Reconquista: The Struggle for Spain
The Reconquista was a 700-year struggle by Christian kingdoms to reclaim the Iberian Peninsula from Muslim states (Al-Andalus), culminating in 1492 when Ferdinand and Isabella conquered Granada, the last Muslim stronghold, as covered in Pengi Social Studies Grade 7, Chapter 7: Medieval Europe. The marriage of Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castile unified the two most powerful Christian kingdoms and completed the Christian reconquest of Spain.
Key Concepts
For centuries, the Iberian Peninsula was divided between Muslim states (Al Andalus) in the south and Christian kingdoms in the north. The 700 year struggle by Christian kings to drive the Muslims out is called the Reconquista .
Slowly, Christian forces pushed south. By the late 1400s, the marriage of Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castile unified the two most powerful Christian kingdoms. In 1492, their combined armies conquered Granada , the last Muslim stronghold, bringing the entire peninsula under Christian rule.
Common Questions
What was the Reconquista?
The Reconquista was a 700-year campaign by Christian kings to drive Muslim rulers out of the Iberian Peninsula, which had been under Islamic control as Al-Andalus.
Who were Ferdinand and Isabella?
Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castile were the monarchs who unified the two most powerful Christian kingdoms in Spain and in 1492 conquered Granada, completing the Reconquista.
When did the Reconquista end?
The Reconquista ended in 1492 when Ferdinand and Isabella conquered Granada, the last Muslim stronghold, bringing the entire Iberian Peninsula under Christian rule.
What was Al-Andalus?
Al-Andalus was the name for the Muslim-controlled states in the southern Iberian Peninsula that existed alongside Christian kingdoms in the north for centuries.
Why is 1492 important in Spanish history?
In 1492, Ferdinand and Isabella completed the Reconquista by taking Granada, and that same year they also sponsored Christopher Columbus voyage to the Americas.