Al-Andalus and Christian Kingdoms: Society, Economy, and Politics
Al-Andalus: Social and Economic Organization
The socioeconomic system in Al-Andalus was commercial and urban. The economy was based on agriculture, with advancements in irrigation techniques and the introduction of new crops like rice, sugarcane, and mulberry, which became essential for silk production. Sheep farming was also important. In cities, cottage industries, especially textiles, flourished. Internal trade thrived in the markets, and external trade was based on exports and imports. The financial system relied on the gold dinar and the silver dirham.
Al-Andalus was an urban society, with cities serving as centers of economic, political, social, and cultural organization. Society was marked by ethnic and religious diversity, including:
- Arabs: A minority leadership group primarily from Saudi Arabia.
- Berbers: Originally from North Africa, they served in the army and administration, under Arab authority.
- Muladis: The majority of the population, primarily peasants, were descendants of Hispanic Christians who converted to Islam.
- Mozarabes: Christians who retained their faith, traditions, and laws under Muslim rule.
Social and Political Organization in the Christian Kingdoms
The Reconquista and Resettlement
The Reconquista involved resettlement, colonization, and the establishment of Christian political power. The initial model was the appropriation and cultivation of uninhabited territories between the Douro and Tagus rivers. Kings granted charters and privileges, such as tax exemptions and military service waivers, to those who populated these territories.
During the 13th century, the kings of Castile and Aragon occupied densely populated Muslim lands, including the Ebro Valley and Guadalquivir Valley. They implemented a system of capitulations or agreements with Muslim authorities, respecting their religion and customs in exchange for tax payments. Muslims were relocated to the suburbs or countryside (morerías). Land distribution followed a model based on social hierarchy.
Feudalism and Social Hierarchy
The resettlement process accelerated the feudalization of society, increasing dependency relationships and vassalage. Nobility and high clergy received large lordships, including jurisdiction (justice and taxes) over the peasants who worked their lands. Peasants paid rents in labor and produce.
Crisis of the Late Middle Ages (14th and 15th Centuries)
Political Organization and Institutions
Crown of Castile
Castilian kings developed authoritarianism to strengthen their power. They created governmental institutions like the Royal Council (which assisted the king in governance), the Chancillería (a court of law), and the Hacienda (responsible for raising taxes). The Cortes (parliament) was subordinated to the royal will, and laws were unified under Roman law.
Crown of Aragon
The Crown of Aragon was a confederation of four kingdoms: Aragon, Catalonia, Valencia, and Mallorca, each maintaining its own laws and institutions. The monarchy was pactista, based on agreements between the Crown and the estates. The Justicia Mayor of Aragon ensured respect for the kingdom’s liberties. Each kingdom’s Cortes had decision-making power, approving or rejecting the king’s proposals.
Demographic, Economic, and Political Crisis
The Iberian Peninsula experienced a widespread demographic crisis in the 14th century, with population decline due to famine, the Black Death, and other factors. The economic crisis manifested primarily in rural areas, with abandoned farmlands and the rise of transhumant livestock, leading to social conflicts like the Revolt of the Catalan Remensas (peasants). In cities, social unrest led to anti-Jewish violence. Political crises arose from clashes between feudal lords and kings.