Christian Reconquista: Kingdoms, Society & Economy
The Christian Reconquista of Al-Andalus
How did Christians occupy these territories? They profited from the division among the Andalusians and the civil wars in Al-Andalus. Peasants occupied the territory and formed small villages in a process of repopulation.
What did the kings do to promote repopulation? The kings gave privileges, called Fueros, to the towns. These privileges included the exemption of tributes or the forgiveness of crimes. They also gave lands to the military orders.
The Turning Point: 1212 and its Consequences
What happened in 1212? In 1212, the Andalusians called the Almoravids and Almohads for help. They invaded the peninsula to aid the Andalusians against the Christians, but ultimately the Almohads were defeated at the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa.
Consequences of Las Navas de Tolosa: It was a turning point in the Islamic presence in Spain. From this moment, the Castilian king Ferdinand III, “The Saint”, conquered the Guadalquivir valley: Seville, Cordoba, part of Cadiz, and Málaga. On the other hand, James I, “The Conqueror”, King of Aragon, conquered the Balearic Islands and Valencia.
Society and Culture in Medieval Spain
Medieval Spain was multicultural, with three main groups:
- Christians: The dominant group.
- Mudejars: Muslims who remained in Christian territory. The Christian kings promised to respect their customs, but their situation tended to deteriorate in the 13th century. Most of them migrated to Granada.
- Jews: They were often hated and blamed for the death of Christ, and because some were very wealthy. They lived in special ghettos and were sometimes persecuted.
The Crown of Castile: Government and Economy
What was the Castilian government like? The Crown of Castile was a unified state under a king, with the same institutions and laws for all the territory.
What were the powers of the kings? They were the chief of administration, army, and diplomacy. They could make laws, declare wars, and pass judgment.
What were the Cortes? The Cortes were the Castilian parliament. It was composed of representatives of the nobility, the church, and the cities. Their function was to approve or reject new taxes. They could not make decisions.
What was the Castilian economy based on? It was based on agriculture and stockbreeding. They cultivated cereals, wheat, grapes (for wine), and olives. The exploitation of Merino wool was very important; it was exported to foreign countries and converted into textiles. The sale of wool contributed to the development of craftsmanship and trade. The trade fair of Medina del Campo was very important.
The Honorable Council of the Mesta
The Mesta was an institution composed of sheep breeders. This institution protected the sheep breeders and granted them privileges, such as the right of Castile to graze on peasants’ lands.
The Crown of Aragon: Government and Economy
The Crown of Aragon: It was created in the 12th century after the marriage of the Count of Barcelona, Ramon Berenguer IV, with Petronilla, daughter of the King of Aragon. Their son, King Alfonso II “The Battler”, conquered Zaragoza and the valley of the Ebro River. James I “The Conqueror” took Valencia, Alicante, Murcia, and the Balearic Islands from the Muslims. Peter III “The Great” and his successors conquered Sicily, Sardinia, and Naples.
Government of the Crown of Aragon: It was a federation of Catalonia, Aragon, Valencia, and the Balearic Islands under a king. However, each territory had its own laws, institutions, customs, and taxes. The King of Aragon needed the approval of the Cortes of each territory.
What was the economy of Aragon based on? It was based on agriculture and trade with many countries. Aragon had consulates in European, African, and Asian cities.