The Middle Ages started on the Iberian Peninsula with the creation of the Visigoth kingdom. Later, the Moors invaded and conquered the Peninsula.
1. THE VISIGOTH KINGDOM (EL REINO VISIGODO)
* Before the year 400 A. D, the Roman Empire was attacked from Germanic tribes, who came from the North of Europe. One of these tribes were the Visigoths.
* They arrived in Hispania and founded a kingdom ( Toledo was its capital).
* The most important Visigoth kings were Liuvigil (Leovigildo), Recarred (Recaredo) and Recceswinth (Recesvinto), they unified the kingdom using some attempts.
* Their population were very few but the adopted the Roman language (Latin), Roman Laws and the Catholic religion. The Visigoths were experts in jewellery (metal and precious stones).
2. THE MOORISH CONQUEST ( LA CONQUISTA MUSULMANA)
* In 711 A.D. an army of Moors arrived from Africa and invaded the Visigoth Kingdom.
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| The Moorish Conquest |
* In just a few years, they
conquered almost the
whole of the Peninsula and
Balearic Islands.
* They called this territory
Al-Andalus and
Cordoba was its
capital.
* Al-Andalus was an
emirate (emirato), a province which
depended on the Caliph of Damascus (Califa de Damasco) in Asia.
* In
756, Prince
Abd-ar-Rahman I (Abderramán I) proclaimed himself an
independent emir, separated from Damascus.
* In
929, the emir
Abd-ar-Rahman III (Abderramán III) proclaimed himself
caliph (Califa) and stablished the
caliphate of Cordoba (until the year 1031).
* Al-Andalus made
great military conquests (during the caliphate),
Almanzor (Moorish soldier) was the
responsible for many
victories.
* Cordoba became
the most important cities and
densely-populated.
* Musicians, brilliant doctors, poets, astronomers....lived there.
* There were
big markets where people bought and sold products from all over the world.
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| THE MOST IMPORTANT PARTS OF A MOORISH CITY |
3. THE CHRISTIAN KINGDOMS (
FORMACIÓN DE LOS REINOS CRISTIANOS)
* The Chistians (in the North) put up strong resistance against the invaders (Moorish). They organised themselves into Kingdoms (reinos) and counties (condados).
*
In Cantabria, They accepted a nobleman called Pelayo (Visigoth) as their chief (jefe). In the year
722 they founded the
Kingdom of Asturias.
* In 910, they transferred the capital to Leon and it was called the Kingdom of Leon.
* The eastern part became independent and the county of Castile (Castilla) became the Kingdom of Castile.
* In the Pyrenees, the Kingdom of Navarra (the most importantin the Christian area), the Catalan counties and the kingdom of Aragon was created.
* The Christian Kingdoms fought against Al-Andalus for 8 Centuries but they traded with the Moors, learnt their customs and travelled in their territory.
