unit 5 the christian kingdoms

UNIT 5

THE CHRISTIAN

KINGDOMS

Social Studies

2ºESO

Drawing created byCristina de la Vega Lienhart. 3ºA ESO

Almudena Corrales Marbán

INTRODUCTION

In this unit you will learn further information about the

Christian Kingdoms in the Iberian Peninsula after the invasion of the

Muslims in 711 AD. Settled in the southern part of the country, the

Muslims quickly expanded their territory northwards. Once the Caliphate

of Córdoba was formed in 929, it became rich and powerful with a strong

army. This moment marks its period of splendor. Despite this fact, in

1031 the Caliphate collapsed into smaller taifas so the Christian kingdoms

sped up their expansion.


1 . THE NORTHERN

KINGDOMS

After invading in 711, Muslims conquered almost all of the Iberian

Peninsula. However, a few Visigothic noblemen resisted in the

Cantabrian mountains. They eventually formed the kingdoms of Asturias,

León and Castilla.

In 795 Charlemagne invaded, and created the Spanish March (Marca

Hispánica) along the south of the Pyrenees, to protect his empire against

Al-andalus. As the Carolingian Empire got weaker, this area gradually

became independent. There were three main centres: Navarra, Aragón

and the Catalan counties.


ASTURIAS AND LEÓN

In the Cantabrian Mountains, a Visigoth

nobleman called Pelayo resisted the Muslims.

According to the legend, he won the battle of

Covadonga in 722, and created the kingdom of

Asturias. This is considered the first Christian

kingdom in the north of Spain after the

Muslim invasion. Gradually the kingdom grew

until it reached the river Duero (natural borders).

It was renamed the kingdom of León.


CASTILLA

Originally, Castilla was a county of

León, but in the 10th century, Fernán

González made Castilla

independent. In the 11th century it

became a kingdom under Ferdinand I.

Ferdinand united it with León in

1038.


PORTUGAL

Portugal was initially a county of

the kingdom of Castilla y León.

In the 12th century, it declared

independence, and Alfonso

Henriques became the first king

of Portugal.


NAVARRA

In the 9th century, the Arista

family founded a kingdom with

its capital city in Pamplona. At

first it was called the kingdom of

Pamplona, but later it was renamed

Navarra. The most important

king of Navarra was Sancho IV

(1004-1035), who controlled much

of northern Spain.

Later monarchs of Navarra

became related to French royalty

through marriage.


ARAGÓN

Aragon was part of Navarra until the 11th

century. Then Ramiro I created an

independent kingdom, which soon grew

more powerful. In the 12th century it was

united with the Catalonian counties

(Condados Catalanes), giving birth to the

Crown of Aragon.


CONDADOS CATALANE S

( T HE CATALAN COUNT IE S )

In the 9th century Wilfred the Hairy

(Wilfredo el Velloso) gained control

of all the Catalan counties. The

Catalan counts continued to pay homage

to the French kings for quite a long time,

but in practice they were independent.

To know more about Wilfredo el Velloso:

http://www.biografiasyvidas.com/biografia/w/wifredo_i.htm


REVIEW OF THE

CHRISTIAN KINGDOMS

Which kingdom is being described?

a) It was originally called Pamplona.

b)After independence, Alfonso Henriques was its first king.

c) It started off as a part of Navarre, but was eventually united with the Catalan counties.

d) It was originally part of León, but then it gained independence. Finally it was united with

León.

e) They paid homage to the French kings, although they gradually became more

independent.

f) It was the first Christian kingdom, and was eventually renamed León.


2. EXPANSION OF THE

CHRISTIAN KINGDOMS.

The Christian kings , who considered themselves the heirs of the Visigoth

kings, were constantly trying to expand their kingdoms southwards.

• In the begining, there were many small and weak Christian kingdoms in

the north. They were often fighting against each other.

• Meanwhile, the Caliphate of Córdoba was very rich and powerful, and

had a strong army.


2.1. THE EXPANSION

SPEEDS UP

• In 1031, the Caliphate collapsed into many smaller taifas. Each taifa was

much weaker on its own.

• Eventually, the Christian kingdoms united into bigger, more powerful

kingdoms. They started to cooperate, instead of fighting each other. The

best example of cooperation was the Battle of Navas de Tolosa in 1212,

were the Almohads were defeated. This event marked the beginning of

the last stage of Reconquest.

• The Christians started to call their war against Al-Andalus a holy war,

or a crusade, do you remember what is the meaning of «crusade»?

• People thought they had a religious duty to fight the Muslims.


THE BATTLE OF NAVAS DE

TOLOSA 1212


3 . T HE ORGANISAT ION AND T HE

E CONOMY OF T HE KINGDOMS

3.1. POLITICAL ORGANISATION

The Christian kingdoms were feudal kingdoms: the king ruled with the

help of nobles who paid homage to him, and provided him with soldiers.

The Christian kingdoms were at war most of the time, so the nobles

were very powerful. The clergy also had many privileges.

• Later, the Cortes (parliaments) advised the kings on new laws and

taxes.

• People who lived in towns elected a town council to govern them .

Towns also had their own laws ans taxes. (Remember the concept of

FUEROS)


THE CORTES


3. 2. ECONOMY

The Christian kingdoms were much less prosperous than Al-Andalus.

Most people were peasant farmers who lived in the countryside. The

towns were small, and their main purpose was being military bases

during the Reonquest. There were few artisans, and luxury goods were

imported from al-Andalus.

Later, these kingdoms became richer. Trade increases, and towns grew.

WHY?

• The Christian kingdoms exported merino wool to other countries.

Castilian wool was famous for its high quality.

• Artisans who had lived in Al-Andalus brought new skills and

technology to the north.

• The taifas paid tribute to the Christian kings.

IMPORTANT


CASTILLA ARAGON

KING Powerful king King had less power

PARLIAMENT Weak parliament Parliament had more power

SOCIETY Mainly rural, with powerful

nobles

Many towns, with lots of

merchants and artisans

AGRICULTURE Sheep –farming for wool and

cereals.

Vines and Olives

INDUSTRY Mining Textiles and ship-building

TRADE Mainly with the Low

Countries

Mediterranean trading

routes.

CASTILLA VS ARAGON


MERINO WOOL IN CASTILLA

MEDITERRANEAN

TRADE IN ARAGON


4. TOLEDO A CITY OF

THREE CULTURES

Toledo was the old Visigoth capital of Hispania. For many centuries it

was ruled by the Muslims, but in 1085 it was conquered by Alsonso

VI. Although it was known as a Christian city, there were also many

Muslims and Jews. It was therefore known as the city of three

cultures. These three cultures lived together peacefully, sharing

their knowledge and skills, so Toledo prospered.

The mixture of cultures encouraged learning in Toledo. As well as the

university, there was also a school of translators (Escuela de

traductores de Toledo) . Philosophical and scientific works were

translated into Latin from Arabic, Greek, an ancient Hebrew.


ART IN THE CITY OF TOLEDO

Bib-al Mardum Mosque in

ToledoLa sinagoga del Tránsito, o sinagoga de

Samuel ha-Leví, situada en la ciudad de

Toledo, es un edificio del siglo XIV erigido

bajo el mecenazgo de Samuel ha-Levi en

tiempos del rey Pedro I


5. RELIGIOUS

PERSECUTION

• In the 14th century, the Christians started to persecute the

Muslims and the Jews. This was partly because of the Black

Death, which many people blamed on the Jews. People were

also envious of the Jews, because some of them had

important jobs in the government (some of them, doctors at

court), and because many of them were wealthy.

• In 1391, the Jewish quarters in several Spanish towns were

attacked by Christians, and many thousands of Jews were

killed.

• In the 15th century, the Catholic Monarchs proclaimed

Catholicism as the only religion. They promoted the

Inquisition, that persecuted Jews and Muslims. (you have read

about it in the book «Ferdinand and Isabella»)


unit 5 the christian kingdoms

Education