The new kingdoms in the northern Hispania started to consolidate themselves through their expansion towards south, it is, the Muslim Hispania or al-Ándalus. This new kingdoms became two main crowns which will try to gain the most territories the better. Besides, this context will be a great influence to develop a new society and above all, economy: war, pillage and looting.
In this lesson, we'll try to make them understand how the medieval society in the Iberian Peninsula was structured by force, violence and hierarchy. At the same time, a new social group arose all along the main cities trading and developing again commercial routes.
Therefore, the Crowns of Aragon and Castile consolidated their positions through military expansion as well as commercial. Even though, the conquest of Muslim territories didn't stop at all. On the contrary, this situation became the motor of new expansions.
Besides, we've got to talk at this point about the important role played by the Church which consolidated their possessions, power and influence through the Holy War proclaimed by them. Let's get started with the lesson.
After the Muslim conquest of Hispania, the Iberian Peninsula became al-Ándalus, a new province of the Muslim caliphate. They advanced, it appears, following up the rivers so they arrived to the main cities of Hispania and conquered them by surrendering or after a short siege. Therefore, in just three years, the Muslims conquered what the Romans took for centuries.
But, what happened with the Christians? Many of them became Muslims with some privileges on their rents but others decided to move to the North of Hispania in order to become protected by the last Christian kingdoms.
These kingdoms resisted against the advance of the Muslims by force and skirmishes so, in 722 the Christians defeated the Muslim army in a great skirmish in Covadonga.
We can recognise some kingdoms during this period of time between 711 and, above all, 1064: Castile, Aragon, Navarre and Catalonia.
Today, we're going to focus on Aragon and Castile. This kingdom was always fighting against Muslims but also against French due to proximity. We've got few resources to study this period of time but we can know a bit more during the 11th century. Thus, we know how important was war to establish their kingdom in better places and not just in the mountains of the north: they conquered Zaragoza in 1118.
They moved their borders towards south and in the 13th century, in 1212 a coalition of the main Christian kings defeated the Muslim army in the battle called las Navas de Tolosa. Since that moment on Aragon conquered all the Eastern territories of al-Ándalus.
On the other hand, Castile was previously divided in two kingdoms: Castile and León, so they had their own kings and territories, most of the times fighting each other. They conquered Toledo in the 11th century and after that they always move their borders towards south conquering territories to the Muslims.
Take a look at this video: it will show you a bit more about the expansion of these Christian kingdoms and secondly, take a look at the pictures: how hard were the medieval times?
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