by 
The
video
above
is
a
sped
up
version
of
the
following
video
showing
the
The
Reconquista:
Every
Year.
In
711
Islamic
Umayyad
Caliphate
sent
their
first
expedition
to
the
Iberian
Peninsula.
Within
a
decade
they’d
swept
away
the
Christian
Visigothic
Kingdom
and
taken
control
of
almost
the
entire
area.
Finally
in
722,
the
Christian
forces
won
a
small
victory
at
the
Battle
of
Covadonga,
and
the
Reconquista
(reconquest)
began.
From
that
point
on,
the
Christian
Kingdoms
would
gain
an
average
of
just
10ft
(3m)
per
day,
everyday
for
770
years
until
the
Iberian
Peninsula
was
once
again
entirely
in
Christian
hands.
Here’s
a
more
detailed
timeline:
Timeline
of
the
Reconquista
-
Before
711
–
The
Pre-Reconquista
Context:-
Late
Antiquity
to
Early
Middle
Ages:
The
Iberian
Peninsula
was
ruled
by
the
Visigoths
following
the
fall
of
the
Roman
Empire.
Internal
divisions
and
regional
rivalries
weakened
Visigothic
authority,
setting
the
stage
for
external
conquest.
-
-
711:-
Muslim
Invasion:
Moorish
(Umayyad)
forces
from
North
Africa
crossed
into
Iberia,
quickly
defeating
the
Visigothic
king
at
the
Battle
of
Guadalete.
This
led
to
the
rapid
conquest
of
most
of
the
peninsula.
-
-
722:-
Battle
of
Covadonga:
In
the
rugged
mountains
of
Asturias,
a
small
Christian
force
led
by
Pelayo
defeated
a
Moorish
army.
Traditionally
considered
the
spark
that
ignited
the
Reconquista,
this
victory
established
a
Christian
foothold
in
the
north.
-
-
8th
–
10th
Centuries:-
Consolidation
of
Northern
Kingdoms:
The
Kingdom
of
Asturias
emerged
and
later
evolved
into
the
Kingdom
of
León,
while
other
Christian
polities
(such
as
Navarre)
began
to
form.
These
kingdoms
gradually
expanded
their
territories
and
laid
the
foundation
for
future
campaigns
against
Muslim-ruled
regions.
-
-
1031:-
Fragmentation
of
Muslim
Rule:
The
powerful
Caliphate
of
Córdoba
collapsed
into
multiple
independent
taifa
kingdoms.
This
political
disunity
weakened
Muslim
control
and
provided
opportunities
for
the
Christian
kingdoms
to
advance.
-
-
1085:-
Conquest
of
Toledo:
Alfonso
VI
of
Castile
captured
Toledo,
one
of
the
major
cultural
and
administrative
centers.
Its
fall
was
both
a
symbolic
and
strategic
turning
point
that
spurred
further
Christian
advances.
-
-
1090s
–
12th
Centuries:-
Ongoing
Expansion:
Throughout
these
centuries,
the
Christian
kingdoms
slowly
pushed
southward,
reclaiming
key
territories.
For
instance,
James
I
of
Aragon
later
captured
Valencia
(in
1238),
and
other
important
cities
gradually
came
under
Christian
control.
-
-
1212:-
Battle
of
Las
Navas
de
Tolosa:
This
decisive
battle
saw
a
united
Christian
army
deliver
a
crushing
blow
to
the
Muslim
forces,
marking
a
turning
point
that
significantly
eroded
Muslim
power
in
Iberia.
-
-
1236
–
1248:-
Further
Major
Conquests:
Ferdinand
III
of
Castile
captured
Córdoba
in
1236
and
Seville
in
1248,
further
consolidating
Christian
territories
in
the
south.
-
-
1469:-
Dynastic
Union:
The
marriage
of
Ferdinand
II
of
Aragon
and
Isabella
I
of
Castile
unified
the
two
most
powerful
Christian
kingdoms.
Their
joint
reign
paved
the
way
for
coordinated
military
campaigns
and
centralization
of
power.
-
-
1492:-
Fall
of
Granada:
The
last
Muslim
stronghold,
Granada,
surrendered
to
the
Catholic
Monarchs.
This
event
marked
the
formal
end
of
the
Reconquista.
-
What
Led
Up
to
the
Reconquista
-
Weakness
of
the
Visigothic
Kingdom:
Internal
strife
and
regional
divisions
among
the
Visigoths
made
it
difficult
to
mount
a
united
defense
against
the
incoming
Muslim
forces. -
Rapid
Muslim
Conquest:
The
Umayyad
forces
exploited
these
weaknesses
and
quickly
took
control
of
nearly
the
entire
peninsula.
Their
initial
success
was
aided
by
effective
military
tactics
and
the
element
of
surprise. -
Geographic
and
Cultural
Factors:
In
the
rugged,
mountainous
north,
local
communities
maintained
a
degree
of
independence
from
Muslim
rule.
Over
time,
these
areas
nurtured
a
distinct
Christian
identity
and
a
determination
to
reclaim
lost
lands. -
Emergence
of
Christian
Kingdoms:
Small
pockets
of
resistance,
starting
with
the
Battle
of
Covadonga,
evolved
into
established
kingdoms
(like
Asturias,
León,
and
Navarre)
that
gradually
organized
military
campaigns
against
the
Muslim-ruled
territories.
What
Happened
After
the
Reconquista
-
Political
Unification
and
State
Formation:
With
the
fall
of
Granada
in
1492
and
the
consolidation
of
power
under
Ferdinand
and
Isabella,
Spain
emerged
as
a
unified
kingdom.
This
unification
laid
the
foundation
for
Spain
to
become
a
major
European
power. -
Religious
Transformation:
The
victory
of
the
Reconquista
led
to
efforts
aimed
at
religious
homogenization.
This
included
policies
that
forced
conversions
or
led
to
the
expulsion
of
Jews
and
Muslims
(notably
through
events
like
the
Spanish
Inquisition). -
Cultural
and
Social
Change:
The
integration
of
diverse
cultural
influences
from
centuries
of
coexistence—and
conflict—transformed
Spanish
art,
architecture,
language,
and
law.
However,
these
changes
also
came
with
periods
of
tension
and
upheaval. -
Global
Expansion:
The
political
and
economic
consolidation
of
Spain
soon
paved
the
way
for
overseas
exploration.
Christopher
Columbus’s
voyage
in
1492,
for
example,
marked
the
beginning
of
Spanish
colonial
expansion
and
the
subsequent
creation
of
a
vast
global
empire.
Why
Christian
Forces
Were
Ultimately
Successful
-
Fragmentation
of
Muslim
Authority:-
After
the
collapse
of
the
unified
Caliphate
of
Córdoba
in
1031,
the
resulting
taifa
kingdoms
were
often
in
conflict
with
one
another.
This
disunity
made
coordinated
defense
or
counterattacks
against
the
steadily
expanding
Christian
kingdoms
difficult.
-
After
-
Geographic
Advantages:-
The
mountainous
terrain
in
northern
Spain
provided
natural
fortifications.
Small
Christian
states
used
these
defenses
effectively,
making
it
hard
for
larger,
less
familiar
Muslim
armies
to
operate
in
the
region.
-
The
-
Rise
and
Consolidation
of
Christian
Kingdoms:-
Over
time,
the
initially
small
Christian
enclaves
grew
into
more
powerful
and
organized
kingdoms.
Their
increasing
military,
economic,
and
political
strength
allowed
for
sustained
campaigns
against
the
taifas.
-
Over
-
Papal
Support
and
the
Crusading
Spirit:-
As
the
Reconquista
increasingly
took
on
the
character
of
a
holy
war,
it
attracted
support
from
the
Papacy
and
other
European
Christians.
This
religious
backing
helped
to
secure
funding,
soldiers,
and
legitimacy
for
the
campaigns.
-
As
-
Dynastic
Alliances
and
Military
Innovation:-
Strategic
marriages
(like
that
of
Ferdinand
and
Isabella)
and
the
formation
of
military
orders
(such
as
the
Knights
Templar
and
the
Order
of
Santiago)
bolstered
military
capabilities
and
promoted
cooperation
among
different
Christian
states.
-
Strategic
-
Decline
of
External
Muslim
Support:-
Over
time,
support
from
North
African
Muslim
powers
waned.
This
reduced
the
resources
and
reinforcements
available
to
the
taifas,
making
it
increasingly
difficult
for
them
to
resist
the
Christian
advances.
-
Over
For
more
on
the
Reconquista
have
a
look
at
the
following
books:
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