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Iberian Cultures: The Mediterranean and Transatlantic Blueprint

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.

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1. Muslim's influence on Alchemy and Chemistry Spain is the land of great cultural richness, once known as the Iberian peninsula at some point in history. It has been greatly influenced by muslims, not only in its language but in other areas as well such as alchemy that later modernized chemistry. Alchemy is an area where philosophy, science, occultism, and theology come together. With the newfound knowledge, scientists were able to develop this information and implement it to what we know today, chemistry. #Muslim
2. Don Quixote: Reality versus Fantasy
3. Convivencia Throughout all of Spain's history there have been multiple cultures/religious groups that inhabited their land simultaneously. Between 700-1492 there were three religious groups that occupied one space in Spain, Al-andalus. These groups were Chirstians, Muslim, and Catholics. On this page, I will talk about how it was to live with different cultural/religious groups in that time. #Muslim, #Architecture
4. Early Modern Spain 1492 to 1567: The Debate Over Moriscos and The Expulsion 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
5. Moorish Influences in Art, Architecture and Language in the Modern World
6. 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
7. The Co-existence of Religions and Cultures during Moorish Presence and Moorish impact on Architecture From 711 CE to 1492, Muslims, known as Moors, invaded the Iberian peninsula, conquering and controlling varying portions of Iberia. The Moors' ruling extended over eight hundred years, significantly impacting the Iberian culture. In this brief presentation, the Muslim’s imposition of tolerance towards other religions will be discussed regarding its influence of allowing an environment of co-existence of cultures and religions. Moreover, the Moorish influence on architecture will also be discussed with examples of different historical buildings. #Muslim, #Hybridity
8. Reconquista- Vision of the Christian Kingdoms
9. Roman Spain Manifested in Art and Architecture The Roman Empire's era of rule over the Iberian peninsula from about 200 BCE to around 470 AD left an undeniable mark on Spanish legacy and history, beginning a period of "Romanization" that encompassed several aspects of life, including the art and architecture of this region. Much of the artistic styling and architectural features of Roman rule are still visible in contemporary times, and underwent a revitalization during the Romanesque era of the Medieval ages, demonstrating the tremendous and lasting impact that the empire had on Spain. #Roman , #Architecture , #Painting
10. The Coins that Change-d Spain's History and Keep it Alive
11. Islamic Architecture has influenced Art around the world Islamic influene in Architecture has been very popular throught years. Architecture is very important because it is what builts up where soceity will inhabit. The Moorish population has a great influence to what Architecture is today. We still see how buldings all over the nations have adopted what Muslims felt was artistic to incorparate into buildings. Modern Architects still study the historical content of the moorish archistructure. #Moorish, #Architecture, #Art

Al-Andalus

The Spanish Inquisition

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