UNIT 7: "The Middle Ages"

UNIT 7: THE MIDDLE AGES

The Muslim invasion:

In 711, Muslims from North Africa invaded Visigoth Spain. After the Battle of Guadalete,

in which the Visigoths were defeated, Muslim armies continued the conquest. In a few years

they conquered most of the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands. The Muslims called

their conquered territory Al- Andalus.

Economy and society:

There were three religious groups: Muslims, Christians and Jews. Most of the people in Al- Andalus lived in walled towns and cities. Their main activities were crafts and trade. The medina (where craftspeople lived) and the zoco were in the centre of the city. People prayed in

a mosque (mezquita). There was usually a fort called an alcazaba and fortified place called an

alcazar. The cities were surrounded by fields were farmers grew cereals, olives and grapes.

The legacy of Al-Andalus:

The Muslims gave a lot to Spain, specially their knowledge (medicine, astronomy and

mathematics).

Stages of the Reconquista:

Between the 8th and the 10th centuries, the Christians form the north of the Iberian Peninsula created small kingdoms that were independent of Al- Andalus.

Don Pelayo, the ruler of the Kingdom of Asturias defeated the Muslim army at the Battle of

Covadonga. This marked the beginning of the Reconquista.

In the 11th century, Al-Andalus was divided into small independent states called taifas and Alfonso VI, the king of León and Castilla, conquered Toledo.

Soon, the Christian Kingdoms united and became bigger and stronger.

In 1212, the forces of the Kingdoms of Aragón, Navarra, Castilla and Portugal defeated the Muslims

at the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa. Soon, the kings of Castilla conquered Andalucía.

In 1469, king Fernando II of Aragón and queen Isabel I of Castilla married and united

their two kingdoms.

In 1492, the Christians finally conquered the Kingdom of Granada.

Repopulation:

The Reconquista involved not only the fighting, but also the repopulation of areas previously occupied by the Muslims.

Feudalism:

It was a hierarchical social system that was used in the Middle Ages. It consisted of the king

and four other groups of people:

1- The king who ruled the country.

2 - The nobles who were very rich and lived in castles.

- The knights who fought in the noble ́s armies and got land from thems.

3 - The clergy who were religious people like priests, monks and nuns.

4- The peasants who were serfs. They had to work on the nobles ́ land and give them part

of their crops.

Medieval cities:

They were protected by a large wall. People had to enter and leave the cities through fortified

gateways. Streets were very narrow and people lived in bad conditions.

Crafts people and artisans made products which were bought and sold by merchants.

Craftspeople who did the same type of work joined together to form guilds in order to control

the price and quality of the products.

In the Middle Ages there were four main styles of medieval art in Spain: Islamic, Romanesque, Gothic and Mudéjar.