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Iberian Cultures: The Mediterranean and Transatlantic Blueprint

King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella Sculpture

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Christianity as a Power Not Religion in the Spanish Inquisition The forceful conversion of non-Christians in Spain during the Spanish Inquisition, brings out the ways in which religion can serve as a cover-up for ulterior motives. Spain used Christianity to consolidate power and create a social hierarchy between Old and New Christians. People of non-Christian origins were considered inferior even if they had converted to Christianity. Spain through Christianity, was able to justify taking away rights, erasure of traditions, and prohibiting language. #Muslim #Christian #Moorish #Monarchy

Spain has been one of the most diverse nations, thanks to its accessibility from other regions. Nevertheless, such diversity has been the root of conflict for many centuries. From being a part of the Roman Empire, being under Muslim rule, and being under dynasties such as the Bourbon and Habsburg dynasties, etc. The history of Spain is very unique but, here we will be focusing on the period around the 15th century.

During the Spanish Inquisition, religion and culture played a bigger role than a difference of “race” in Spain. The concept of race, at least as we know it today, did not yet exist. Even though one could argue that to an extent culture and race coincide, the main focus was gaining power via religion. To unify the Spanish Kingdom, King Ferdinand II married the Catholic Isabella II in 1469. As other European counterparts negatively viewed Spain's hybrid and diverse society, they sought ways to become a dominant force. This union served to consolidate the monarchy's power in Spain and most importantly stabilize Christianity that would allow for respect abroad. In the name of Christianity, all of the terrible actions against non-Christians would be justified.

The illustration of Moses defeating the Muslim army has many implications for how the Spanish viewed Moriscos (moors). These people were referred to as the New Christians because they were originally Muslim and of Arab roots. The image represents how Christians could be able to reason with the unfair treatment of Muslims. When seeing such an illustration in the Bible, one can interpret it as needing to defeat or take over Muslims. It also further helps convey the message that Muslims are enemies and should therefore be treated as such. In the image, we know that there are two different groups of people because the Muslims in the illustration have dark skin and the men helping Moses have white skin. This difference in skin color creates a bigger gap between Christians and Muslims, of which Muslims are considered the other and don't belong.

In 1566, there was an establishment of rules that Moors had to follow in order to exist in Spanish society. Most of the rules seem absurd, as some of the rules were lists of clothing that they were prohibited to wear. They had to abandon all of their customs to fit into the standard of the time. However, besides all of this, they were still not treated equally. Not only the monarchy but the people also used prejudice against the Moors for their benefit while claiming that it was for the sake of Christianity.

Archbishop Juan Martinez Silíceo, argued in favor of the Limpieza de Sangre (Purification of Blood) statues to feel that he finally moved up the social ladder. These statues were created to prevent New Christians from obtaining decent positions and moving up the social ladder. Old Christians that would have normally been seen as being of the lower class now were above the Moorish Christians. Being in the lower part of the social hierarchy made Old Christians adopt these kinds of ideas easier because they were now seen as being better than other groups. So, even though Moors were forced to fully comply and adopt Christian customs, they would never be equal to the Old Christians. Their lineage of Muslim "blood" would never allow them to truly be Christians, according to the Spanish. Furthermore, due to these statues, people became fixated on the idea of having pure blood and claiming Old Christian blood. People rejected any kind of Moorish history they may have had in an attempt to gain or maintain status.

Thus, the expulsion and treatment of Moors in Spain had to do with matters of political and social power. Religion was used as a tool to create a divide and separate Old Christians from New Christians. In which Old Christians were considered superior and New Christians were ultimately seen as invalid Christians. It was less about spreading the same ideals and more about proving authority and superiority.
Early Modern Spain 1492 to 1567: The Debate Over Moriscos and The Expulsion 67 In 1942 King Ferdinand and Isabella granted liberal terms to the Moors upon their surrender in Granada. Seven years later, in 1499 Francisco Jiménez de Cisneros lobbied against this policy and pushed an agenda of zero tolerance towards Islamic practices of any kind in Granada. The Treaty of Granada was not honored, and conflict began to arise. #Hybridity #Muslim #Christian #Jewish #Architecture #Artifact #Monarchy #Moorish plain 2023-08-10T09:50:09-07:00
King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Isabella I of Castille, also known as The Catholics Monarchs, are considered a symbol of the transition of Spain from the middle ages to the modern age. In this page I'll will talk about the the debate over the Moriscos and their expulsion, as well as the irony behind the attempt of erradicating an entire culture. We will aslo explore the similarities between the Treaty of Granda and the Casta System. We will study integration of cultures and religious, social hierarchies, and the Moors's influence until this day.

Ferdinand and Isabella made significant changes in the history of Spain. Their marriage in 1469 united two powerful kingdoms and laid a foundation to create a strong and unified nation. The IIIF image on the left is a photograph of a statue of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. I find it interesting that King Ferdinand is sitting on the right side of the queen instead of the left. If you zoom in, you can also see her hand on top of his. This detail made me think about the expression "you are my right hand" which is a figurative way of saying that someone is an extremely valuable, trusting and supportive. It conveys the idea that the person being referred to plays a crucial role in helping and supporting the individual, much like the right hand is essential for most people's dominant tasks. We see King Ferdinand of the queen's right side as if she held power over him. Regarless of the meaning of this photograph and the intensions of the artist, these monarchs played a significant role in impacting the lives of the Moors (Muslims) in the Iberian Peninsula.

Integration and Religion

The Reconquista was a military endevour by Christian kingdoms to recapture territories from Muslims. When Granada surrendered in 1492, the Catholic Monarchs, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, implemented the Treaty of Granada, also known as the Surrender of Granada. These terms allowed the Muslim, known as Moors, to maintain their Islamic religion, language, and customs under certain conditions. Seven years later, in 1499 Francisco Jiménez de Cisneros lobbied against this policy and pushed an agenda of zero tolerance towards Islamic practices of any kind in Granada. The Treaty of Granada was not honored, and conflict began to arise.

The Muslim population in Granada was told to convert to Christianity or leave the region. Those who chose to convert were known as Moriscos, and they faced significant pressure to abandon their Islamic practices and embrace Christianity. The end of religious tolerance began in 1508. There was a degree of religious tolerance for Christians and Jews in the Iberian Peninsula. However, with the Catholic Monarchs' victory and establishment of a unified Christian kingdom, Christianity became the dominant religion. Spanish officials issued regulations targeting the remaining pieces of Moorish culture. Forced conversion and persecution started to take place. In 1567 the military tried to eradicate Moorish culture once and for all. They required the Moriscos to give up their language, clothing, customs, and were constantly being penalize for "breaking the law". The conversions were done forcefully and were considered the complete opposite to the treaty signed by the Catholic monarchs. While some Moors converted to Christianity, many faced, expulsion, or death if they refused to convert. This forced the Moors, now called Moriscos to rebel. It was not a rebellion against the king, but rather a stand for the things he had not only promised but signed, which they consider sacred.

Durind the Spanish colonization of the Americas a similarly instance known as the Castas System took place in Latin America. The Casta system, was a hierarchical social structure that emerged during the colonial period in Latin America, particularly in territories controlled by the Spanish Empire. It was a system of social classification based on racial and ethnic distinctions, which assigned individuals to specific social classes. During the colonial period, certain communities were allowed to maintain their distinct customs and traditions while the Spanish maintained their power and superiority to other racial groups in the colonies. On top of this, the Spanish colonizers sought religious justifications for their policies of colonization, conversion, and social organization. They used a blend of Christianity and the idea of divine providence to justify their domination over the "other".

Social Hierarchies

Both instances were influenced by religious beliefs and practices. In the case of the surrender of Granada, it was the Christian rulers' desire to spread Christianity that drove the Reconquista, whereas in the Caste System, Indigenous peoples played a significant role shaping the hierarchical structure and cultural practices. The Casta system was a complex and individuals were classified based on their racial and ethnic heritage. The Peninsulares for instance were Spaniards born in Spain who held the highest social status in colonial society. The criollos, were Spaniards who were born in the Americas. Though they were of Spanish descent, they were considered second-class citizens compared to the Peninsulares. In the case of the treaty between the Moors and the Monarchs, the Moors who remained in Granada were considered Dhimmis, an Arabic word that means "protected person", and while they were granted some rights, they were still subject to certain restrictions and discrimination like paying more taxes in exchange for not serving in the military. In the Indian caste system, social status and roles were determined by birth, and people were categorized into different castes with varying privileges and limitations.

The Casta system played a significant role in determining people's social and economic opportunities, legal rights, and privileges just like the Treaty of Granda did to the Moors. It's essential to note that while some similarities exists between the two, the historical and cultural contexts of the the Treaty of Granada and the Casta System are different. The events occurred in different regions, under different circumstances, and involved distinct religious and political dynamics. However, they both reinforced discrimination and helped maintain the social order and power dynamics established by the Spanish rulers.

Moors Influence

Geneology is tied to our ancestry. Our family history and lineage tells a story. It helps us trace the ancestry and descent of each individual over generations. It involves researching and documenting information about our ancestors, their relationships, and life events. The IIIF photo on bottom left shows us a pieces of parchment paper talking about genealogy and the "la limpieza de sangre."

Limpieza de Sangre means purity of blood, a concept developed in by Spain, referring to a person without Jewish, Muslim ancestry. Purity of blood became an obsessive concern in Spain when the Moors began converting to Christianity. It's interesting to see how during the Limpieza de Sangre in modern Spain the Spanish were whiling to "purify" blood but not their culture. An example of this is agriculture. During the period of Muslim rule in Spain, known as the Al-Andalus era, the Moors made significant advancements in various fields, including architecrure. The description of the IIIF image on the right shows an arch with black and white stripes and the description reads, "La imitación cristiana del arte y la arquitectura de al-Ándalus" is clearly described as an imitation or cristian art. The Moors brought their unique architectural style, which combined elements of Islamic, Byzantine, and Visigothic traditions, resulting in a distinctive and beautiful architectural heritage.

The Moors brought Islamic architectural elements to Spain, characterized by features such as horseshoe arches, geometric patterns, and calligraphy. The concept of the courtyard and inside gardens, often surrounded by decorative fountains or pools, was introduced by the Moors. These courtyards became an essential part of Spanish architecture and were incorporated into many buildings, including the famous palace and fortress of Alhambra located in Granada, Andalusia, Spain. It was built on a plateau that overlooks the city of Granada and it was built between 1238 and 1358.

The photo above shows five famous fountains in this palace:
- The Lions' Fountain
- Fuente de los Arrayanes
- Lindaraja Fountain
- Fountain of the Baths of the Comares Palace
- Fountain of the Patio de la Acequia in the Generalife.
The Alhambra Palace is perhaps the most famous Moorish architectural masterpiece in Spain. It is known for its colorful tile mosaics, gardens, and impeccable structure. This palace showcases the pinnacle of Moorish architectural and artistic achievements. The Moors' legacy left a lasting impact on Spain, especially in the southern regions, where their influence was most significant. Many Spanish cities, such as Córdoba, Granada, and Seville, are home to stunning examples of Moorish-inspired architecture, showcasing the rich and diverse history of the region.

This is why genealogical research is important, it often leads to the discovery of unknown facts about our history and believes. Genealogy is an essential tool for historians to research historical events. By understanding the social patterns of the past we can avoid committing the same mistakes in the future. This page only shows a fraction of the many important events that took place in Spain's history. If you are interesting on a brief summary about some of these events, feel free watch the following animated video about the history of Spain from the year 300BC to modern day, thank you.
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.