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Iberian Cultures: The Mediterranean and Transatlantic Blueprint

Great Mosque of Córdoba

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Reconquista- Vision of the Christian Kingdoms
Al-Andalus
Before the Reconquista, the Muslims had conquered the Iberian Peninsula between the years of 710 to 780. The Visigothic Kingdom fell due to the Islamic invasion, and the Muslims began to control areas of Iberia. Muslim Spain was known as Al-Andalus, where Muslim influence and societal tolerance had a lasting impact on their culture. There was an established coexistence between the Christian and Jews and Muslims in Al-Andalus, the Christians and Jews were allowed to practice their religion so long as they paid special taxes. Between the Christians, Jews and Muslims there were exchanges of ideas, politics, economy, values, and culture known as Convivencia because these groups were not in conflict with one another. Working together there was progression in math, astronomy, and medical health. These diverse groups had influence in aspects such as poetry, art, language, architecture. Remnants of this time of Islamic influence in Medieval Spain are still present today such as the Mosque- Cathedral of Córdoba, which served as a place of prayer during the rule of Abd al-Rahman.
The Reconquista
The start of the Reconquista began around the year 718, in the battle of Covadonga. The Christian had won their first battle against the Muslims, the Christians led by King Don Pelayo settled and the Kingdom of Asturias was established soon to be their stronghold. The attempts of expanding the Christian kingdoms began. After many more battles, in 791 the Kingdom of Asturias King Alfonso II reign accomplished the expansion towards the south of the Iberian Peninsula. In 924 King Alfonso the III reinstates the city of Leon as the Christian Capital. Around 1085 Toledo was seized by the Christian, giving them access to set in motion attacks in other territories. Through more battles and conquering of territories, Valencia eventually gets captured.
The city of Valencia being captured (1094) has significance due to it being controlled by Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar (El Cid). El Cid, a Castilian military leader, becomes known as a hero of the Reconquista given the image of chivalry, seen as a great warrior and soldier of their time.
By the 12 century Christian force controlled almost half of the Iberian Peninsula. In 1469, Spain becomes unified by the marriage of Ferdinand Ⅱ of Aragon and Isabella Ⅰ of Castile, given the title of “The Catholic King and Queen.” The forces of Ferdinand and Isabella eventually captured the last Muslims stronghold of Granada, and such the Reconquista was completed.
The Spanish Inquisition
After effects of the Reconquista lead to the Spanish Inquisition, that had lasted more than 350 years. In which thousands of Jews and Muslims were persecuted and executed. The inquisition was put in place in order to investigate hersey, on whether the Jews and Muslims who had converted were being true in their pursuit of Catholicism, but eventually became abused in which victims were being falsely accused. Multiple issued decree were passed giving the Muslim two options, to either convert or flee. The Conversos, Jews who had already converted were still targeted and discrimination driven by religious and economic reasons. Moriscos, Muslims who had converted contextualizes from Muslims who were forced into Catholicism. In 1609, about 300,000 Moriscos were expelled from Spain and those that remained suffered at the hands of the Inquisitors.

Intolerant vs Tolerant Societies
The Christian Kingdoms represents the idea of an intolerant society. In which varieties of cultures, religions, language, and architecture many societal diversity were repressed or eliminated due to the fear of the Other. The results of such mentality, lead the the death of many and separation and conflict between groups of differences. In opposition, to the Christian Kingdoms, Al-Andalus represented a tolerant society one in which cultural diversity prospered. A time in which different groups were able to work together instead of against each other, ideas were shared and valued. As a result there were prosperity of advances in intellectual areas, as well as the spread of customs and language.
Spanish Art and Architectural Influences When the Muslims arrived in Spain in the 8th century, this event marked the beginning of an era of nearly eight centuries of prosperous rule over the Iberian peninsula which paved the way for the construction of numerous mosques, citadels, and palaces, many of which still exist today.

The art, which included plaster carvings, tile , and manuscripts incorporated many geometric designs which placed emphases on symmetry. These forms of art and architecture became known as the mudéjar style, but also became blended with the overarching idea of "Spanish revival" architecture. In this way, many architects around the world incorporated elements of mudéjar art and architecture to construct buildings, such as those in Los Angeles like Powell Library at UCLA and the Shrine Auditorium in Downtown Los Angeles.