2 January 1492
Ferdinand and Isabella capture the last Moorish stronghold in Spain.
On this date in 1492, The Catholic Majesties (who ruled Spain jointly, interestingly enough) were given the keys to Grenada after a nine-month siege, ending almost 800 years of Muslim rule on the Iberian peninsula. The Moors had landed in Spain in 711 and quickly conquered most of it. Almost immediately the Christians began fighting back, in the Reconquista. It took them long enough, but by the time Ferdinand married Isabella in 1469, the work was almost complete. It still took them another 20 years to truly drive the Moors from Spain and unite all of Spain under their rule. As an added bonus, in 1492 they also expelled the Jews from Spain! Good job, guys!
On this date in 1492, The Catholic Majesties (who ruled Spain jointly, interestingly enough) were given the keys to Grenada after a nine-month siege, ending almost 800 years of Muslim rule on the Iberian peninsula. The Moors had landed in Spain in 711 and quickly conquered most of it. Almost immediately the Christians began fighting back, in the Reconquista. It took them long enough, but by the time Ferdinand married Isabella in 1469, the work was almost complete. It still took them another 20 years to truly drive the Moors from Spain and unite all of Spain under their rule. As an added bonus, in 1492 they also expelled the Jews from Spain! Good job, guys!
posted by Greg | 9:44 AM
3 Comments:
Oh, the irony!
Grredy Europeans. Just consider the fact that today you are blessed with higher education, technology and Research which are the root cause of your development. If Muslims, whom you biasedly refer to as moors, would not have conquered Spain. How would you have gone to this extent???
Dare give me an answer!!!
The history is evident to the fact that Muslims introduced all such stuff.
Sorry, Anonymous, but I'm not sure what your objection is. I'm just pointing out that on this date Grenada fell. Nothing more, nothing less. Maybe you're objecting to the term "Moor," and if so, I'm sorry - I never knew it was an objectionable term. My bad.
As for your contentions - I'm a history major, so of course I know all about the Muslim contribution to Western European development. One of the great tragedies in the world, I think, might be the fact that the Muslim invaders in the eighth century DIDN'T conquer most of Europe - things might have been much different and possibly much better. Spain under the Caliphs wasn't perfect, but it was a lot better than most of Europe at the same time, and the Muslims were remarkable in allowing Jews and Christians freedom of worship. It was an interesting time.
One of the biggest problems in the Muslim world today, it seems (and correct me if I'm wrong, since you're in the heart of it) is that the spirit that animated Islam when it first began and led to so many great forward strides in science and knowledge has calcified. When the West started to pass the Muslim world, instead of keeping up, many Muslims at the time simply turned conservative and tried to return to this Golden Age. It's a shame, really.
I hope you come back to see my response and debate it if you like. You seem to have found me somewhat randomly, so maybe you won't be back. Too bad.
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