The Conquest of Al-Andalus

This set of flashcards covers key terms and definitions related to the historical context of Spain, focusing on the Reconquista, significant figures, and events.

Isabella and Ferdinand

Catholic monarchs of Spain whose marriage unified Castile and Aragon; led the Reconquista and launched the Spanish Inquisition.

Abd al-Rahman III

First Caliph of Córdoba (929–961); strengthened Al-Andalus and declared independence from the Abbasid Caliphate.

Tomás de Torquemada

First Grand Inquisitor of the Spanish Inquisition; notorious for persecuting Jews, Muslims, and heretics.

Abu Abdallah Muhammad XII (Boabdil)

Last Muslim ruler of Granada; surrendered to Ferdinand and Isabella in 1492, ending Muslim rule in Spain.

Iberian Peninsula

A region in southwest Europe that includes modern-day Spain and Portugal.

Abrahamic Religions

Religions tracing origins to Abraham: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Moor

A general term for Muslims from North Africa who ruled parts of the Iberian Peninsula from the 8th to the 15th century.

Caliphate

An Islamic state led by a caliph, considered a religious and political successor to the Prophet Muhammad.

Al-Andalus

Muslim-ruled territory in the Iberian Peninsula from 711 to 1492.

Emirate

A Muslim political territory ruled by an emir; often semi-independent under a caliphate.

Reconquista

The centuries-long Christian effort to reclaim the Iberian Peninsula from Muslim rule, ending in 1492.

Castile & Aragon

Two major Christian kingdoms in Spain; their unification under Isabella and Ferdinand helped complete the Reconquista.

Papal Bull / Papal Dispensation

Official decrees from the Pope; dispensations allowed exceptions to Church law, like the marriage of Ferdinand and Isabella.

Marranos

Jews who converted to Christianity in Spain, often under pressure, but were suspected of secretly practicing Judaism.

Mudejars

Muslims who remained in Christian-controlled parts of Spain after the Reconquista, often allowed limited religious freedom.

Granada War (1482–1492)

Final military campaign of the Reconquista; ended with the capture of Granada from the Nasrid dynasty.

Treaty of Granada

Agreement in 1491 guaranteeing rights to Muslims in Granada after surrender; soon violated by the Spanish crown.

Spanish Inquisition

Religious court established in 1478 to root out heresy, especially among Jews and Muslims who had converted to Christianity.

Alhambra Decree

1492 edict by Isabella and Ferdinand ordering the expulsion of Jews who refused to convert to Christianity.

Taifa

Independent Muslim kingdoms that emerged after the collapse of the Caliphate of Córdoba.

Battle of Zallaqah / Sagrajas (1086)

Major battle where the Almoravids helped Muslim Spain defeat Christian forces from Castile.

Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa (1212)

Turning point battle where Christian forces defeated the Almohads, accelerating the Christian reconquest.

Religious Conversion / Conversos

Term for Jews and Muslims who converted to Christianity in Spain, often under duress; many were still persecuted.