Reconquista

he Reconquista is a historical period of nearly 800 years during which the Christian kingdoms of the Iberian Peninsula reconquered the Muslim territories of Al-Andalus, spanning from the early 8th century to the late 15th century.

The Reconquista is a key period in the history of the Iberian Peninsula, beginning in 711 with the Muslim invasion and ending in 1492 with the capture of Granada by the Catholic Monarchs, Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile. This long process of reconquest was marked by intermittent conflicts, shifting alliances, and periods of relative coexistence among Christians, Muslims, and Jews.

The Reconquista began with the victory of Christian forces at the Battle of Covadonga in 722, considered the first significant success against the Muslim invaders. Over the centuries, the northern Christian kingdoms of the peninsula, such as the Kingdom of León, Castile, Aragon, and the County of Barcelona, gradually expanded their territories southward.

During this period, important historical figures such as El Cid emerged, symbolizing Christian resistance against Muslim rule. The Reconquista culminated in 1492 with the fall of Granada, the last Muslim kingdom, marking the end of nearly 800 years of Muslim presence in Spain.

The Reconquista had profound consequences on the political, social, and cultural structure of the Iberian Peninsula. It led to the consolidation of the Christian kingdoms and the unification of Spain under the Catholic crown. The effects of the Reconquista were also felt beyond Spain's borders, influencing the Portuguese Reconquista and the European expansion into the New World.