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Period: 1031 to 1091
Taifas emerge
were those of Sevilla, Toledo, Badajoz and Zaragoza. The Christians took advantage of the differences between the Muslims to conquer territory and collect taxes paid in gold coins, known as parias. -
Period: 1031 to 1492
Curiosities
People had the vote
The church didn't conduct witch hunts
They had a Renaissance, and invented experimental science
They travelled – and traded – over very long distances
They had some great ‘folk’ customs
You didn't have to get married in church
Most great medieval authors didn't write
They didn't believe the world was flat -
1035
Hispanic Christian Kingdoms
For the feudal kings, the kingdom was part of their personal estate. They therefore divided their lands as an inheritance or granted part of them as a dowry.
This influenced the development of Hispanic kingdoms, as shown in the division of the lands of Sancho III el Mayor after his death in 1035.
The Kingdoms were:
Aragon, Navarra and Castilla -
1085
The Kingdom of Castilla and León
The Kingdom of León, which was the oldest in the peninsula, was overtaken in importance by the Kingdom of Castilla, which was more militarily active and had greater social mobility. After the death of Fernando I and underwent periods of unity and separation throughout the 12th century.
Alfonso VI, King of Castilla and León, took Toledo in 1085. This city had a high symbolic value, as it was the centre of a powerful taifa and had been the capital of the Visigothic Kingdom. -
1085
Reunification of the Andalusian territory
After the Christian conquest of the Kingdom of Toledo (1085), the taifa kings were forced to seek help from the Almoravids, Muslims that had established an empire in North Africa. Their arrival stopped the Christian advance and achieved the reunification of the Andalusian territory until the early 12th century. -
1104
meanwhile aragón
This kingdom experienced strong growth with kings like Alfonso I (1104–1134).
In 1118, Alfonso I of Aragón and Navarra conquered Zaragoza And much more.
In 1137, the marriage of Ramón Berenguer IV, Count of Barcelona, and Petronila, the young Queen of Aragón, led to the union between the Catalan counties and Aragón (forming the Crown of Aragón). Although each region kept its own laws and institutions, He and his son Alfonso II continued the expansion of the Crown of Aragón towards the south. -
1143
The independence of Portugal
Henry of Burgundy when he married Alfonso VI’s daughter. Their son declared it independent in 1128 and it was established as a kingdom in 1143.
The borders of the Kingdom of Portugal extended to the banks of the Tajo after the conquest of the city of Lisbon in 1147. -
1157
Expansion throughout the lands of the Tajo.
The kingdoms of León and Castilla had been strengthened by the conquest of Toledo. This opened up opportunities for the expansion.
This expansion took place during the reign of Alfonso VII, although these kingdoms separated on his death in 1157. -
1172
The Almohad invasion
During the second half of the 12th century. The Almohads, who took advantage of the territorial fragmentation of Al-Andalus, managed to unite the Andalusian territory in 1172 and established their capital in Sevilla. -
Period: 1172 to 1212
The Almohad
During the second half of the 12th century. The Almohads, who took advantage of the territorial fragmentation of al-Andalus, managed to unite the Andalusian territory in 1172 and established their capital in Sevilla. This empire hindered the expansion of the Christian kingdoms, mainly in the areas between the Tajo and the Sierra Morena, until the Christians’ victory in the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa (1212) -
1188
THE CORTES ESTAMENTALES AND PACTISMO REACH A PEAK
All Christian kingdoms had Cortes Estamentales. The first were those of León, constituted in 1188. Now as the Cortes of Castilla, their major development took place during the 14th and 15th century, when the representatives of cities were an important counterweight to the privileges of the nobility and the clergy. -
Period: 1200 to 1400
Society and economy
In the 13th century, the economy of the Christian kingdoms developed significantly.
CASTILLA AND LEÓN
In Castilla and León, large migrating flocks of Merino sheep were at the centre of intense economic activity
CROWN OF ARAGÓN
In the Crown of Aragón maritime trade was encouraged. Therefore, cities like Barcelona, Valencia and Palma de Mallorca developed the business of crafts and trade. -
1212
Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa
The Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa (1212) was a major victory for the Christian kingdoms and made the occupation of the Guadalaquivir valley possible. In this battle, the kings of Castilla (Alfonso VIII), Navarra (Sancho el Fuerte) and Aragón (Pedro II) fought together. -
Period: 1213 to 1249
Navarra, Andalusian and Aragón
Navarra turned to France, with whom it had the closest ties from that moment. In 1234, a French dynasty occupied the throne of Navarra. In 1250, there was only one Andalusian kingdom, the Kingdom of Granada, ruled by the Nasrid dynasty. Aragón lost nearly all its land in the Midi after the defeat by the French in the battle of Muret (1213), in which Pedro II died. His successor, Jaime I of Aragón, conquered the Islas Baleares (1235) and Valencia (1245). -
Period: 1213 to 1249
Politics on the peninsula
Portugal reached the southern coasts of the peninsula in 1249 with the conquest of Faro, bringing the end of its expansion. The definitive union of Castilla and León came with Fernando III in 1230. This king conquered the two great Islamic capitals, Córdoba (1236) and Sevilla (1248). In addition, he took Murcia in 1243. Navarra turned to France, with whom it had the closest ties from that moment. In 1234, a French dynasty occupied the throne of -
Period: 1300 to 1400
conflicts and civil wars
The 14th and 15th centuries were marked by conflicts between Christian kingdoms and civil wars caused by rivalry between the nobility and the monarchy.
The nobles sought to protect and increase their privileges. On the other hand, kings, usually with the support of the towns, wanted to restrict the power of the nobility, although they still needed their military support. In the end, kings reinforced their authority, but in exchange had to grant financial concessions to the nobility. -
Period: Aug 30, 1334 to Mar 23, 1369
Trastámara dynasty: the war
One of the bloodiest civil wars was that between king Pedro I of Castilla and his step-brother Enrique of Trastámara, who aspired to the throne. The King had the support of most cities, while his opponent had the backing of much of the nobility and the high clergy. Enrique II was victorious and acceded to the throne of the Trastámara dynasty. He granted large estates to the nobility who had supported him. -
Period: 1400 to 1492
SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATIONS
In the 14th century, Spanish kingdoms suffered a serious demographic crisis brought on by hunger, wars and the Black Death. This demographic crisis had an economic impact. In Castilla, agricultural production declined and many fields were left abandoned. On the other hand, in the Crown of Aragón, many merchants and craftsmen were ruined. Social conflicts, Clashes between different factions of nobles were typical during this era, on Jewish quarters and massacres of Jews in 1391. -
1412
Compromise of Caspe
In the Crown of Aragón, King Martín I died without an heir in 1410. Therefore, in 1412, representatives of institutions from every state in the Crown were convened to choose a new king. The resolution reached at this meeting, the Compromise of Caspe, meant that the House of Trastámara was put in place to rule Aragón. -
1492
More curiosities
The Crown of Castilla began the exploration and incorporated territories in the area of the Gibraltar Strait.
The Nasrid Kingdom of Granada lasted until 1492. It had a good economic situation, although it lost some territories close to the Strait of Gibraltar, such as Algeciras.
The Crown of Aragón launched an expansion campaign in the Mediterranean to defend its commercial interests.
warriors called Almogavars, and numerous trade consulates were established in North Africa.