Lecture 6 - The Spain of the Three cultures: Politics and Society in Medieval Iberia Flashcards
what is “Reconquista”
” a polemical concept: TA 19th Century historiographical concept linked to (1) the idea of the political unity of Spain under a Catholic Monarchy going back to the Visigoths; and (2) the alleged historical continuity of the Spanish people/nation. This notion consolidated duringFranco’sdictatorship
is the reconquista an Anti-Muslim Sentiment
Anti-Muslim texts were far less common in the first centuries of the Middle Ages than previously thought – An exception was set by the Christian Chronica Prophetica (883–884), a document stressing the Christian and Muslim cultural and religious divide in Iberia and the necessity to drive the Muslims out, but its influence was limited
explain War and Alliances in the Middle Ages with regard to the “reconquista”
Both Christian and Muslim rulers fought with each other and amongst themselves. Alliances between Muslims and Christians were not uncommon. Blurring distinctions even further were the mercenaries from both sides who simply fought for whoever paid the most – No unified purpose
who was El Cid
The example of Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, El Cid Campeador (1043-1099)
Muslims called him “Cid” which meant the Lord (probably from the original Arabic al-sayyid, السَّيِّدn
Christians called him El Campeador, which stood for “The Battlefielder,” “Outstanding Warrior,” or “The one who stands out in the battlefield”
In history, he served both Christian and Muslim rulers (especially those who opposed the Almoravids) – He conquered the Muslim kingdom of Valencia
In poetry, He is the protagonist of the most famous Spanish ballad of the Middle Ages “El Cantar del Mío Cid” (The Song of Mio Cid) – Late 12th Century – It presents El Cid as an ideal Christian knight and faithful vassal of his King – The poem was certainly directed to legitimate the minor nobility vis-à-vis the high nobility and the monarchy
Holy War in the Peninsula: who fought
Reconquista vs. Crusade vs. Jihad
explain The Christian Crusade and the Almoravid/Almohad Jihad (holy war in the peninsula)
A turning point. The idea of a Holy War against the Christian/Muslim enemy started late in the late 11th Century with the first Crusade (on the Christian side) and with the Almoravid/Almohad invasion (on the Muslim side) – Foreign European knights came to assist the Christian kingdoms as part of the Crusade – Arab rulers called in the Almoravids (Berbers) to help them
explain Pragmatists vs. Radicals during the holy war in peninsula
Foreign fighters (either Christian or Muslims) were far more ideologized and radical than Christians and Muslims living in the Iberian Peninsula – They were therefore looked with suspicion by both the local Muslim and Christian aristocracy, but wanted their military expertise [see ”Dangerous friends”]
explain The Reconquista put “on ice (holy war in the peninsula)
After the victory of the Navas de Tolosa (1212) and the end of Almohand rle, the Reconquista was no longer a political priority neither for Castile or Aragon. Castile underwent a period of intense political instability - Aragon concentrated on its Mediterranean expansion, especially in Italy -
what was the new threat during/after the holy war in the peninsula
The Ottoman empire: A new threat. The Fall of Constantinople, the Mediterranean expansion of the Ottoman Empire, and the unification of the Crowns of Castile and Aragon together with an increasing religious dogmatism in the Western Christendom explains the Fall of Granada , the last Muslim kingdom, in 1492.
explain The expulsion of the “moriscos:” (holy war in the peninsula)
Accused of having falsely converted to Christianity and deemed a security risk in light of Ottoman advances, the remainng converted population of Muslim origin known as “moriscos” were expelled from Spain in 1609. The expulsion of the moriscos marked the end of the influence of Muslim culture in the Iberian Peninsula.
how does Henry of Burgundy relate to the old war in the peninsula
Remember. One of those knights was Henry of Burgundy (1066-1112), who became Count of Portugal in 1096, married an (illegitimate) daughter of Alphonse VI, raised against the King of Castile and Leon, and
was the first member of became the father of the country’s first king, Afonso Henriques.
what was the capital in christian spain
Toledo had been the old capital of the Visigothic Kingdom – It was conquered by the Christians in 1085 - It carried much symbolic value - Under the Castillian kings, Toledo continued to be a meeting point for Christians, Jews, and Muslims
explain The School of Translators
Toledo became famous for the establishment and development between the 12th and 13th century of the group of schlars known as the Toledo School of translators.
what were the 2 phases of the Toledo School of translators
12th Century: ArchbishopRaymond of Toledopromoted the translation of philosophical and religious works, mainly from classical Arabic into Latin, including Greek works that had been translated into Arabic
13th Century: Under, KingAlfonso X, the Wise, translators no longer worked withLatinas the final language, but translated into a revised version ofCastilian. This resulted in establishing the foundations of the modernSpanish language.
what was the new legal code of the christian spain
King Alphonse X codified the most important legal code of the Middle Ages: Las Siete partidas (Seven Part Code) which would help in later centuries solidify the power of the Monarchy - This Code has been described as a “humanist encyclopedia,” as it addressesphilosophical, moral andtheologicaltopics as well, including theGreco-Roman,Judeo-ChristianandIslamic viewpoints