Spanish History Reconquista
Questions on Spanish history…10 POINTS!?
I know it’s a lot of questions, but I would REALLY appreciate ANY help! I will be give best answer to who ever can answer the most. Thanks in advance!
1. What were the influences of Muslims on Spanish history?
2. Why is the Reconquista important to Spanish History?
3. What were effects of the Crusades?
4. What were the effects of the Inquisition?
5. What were problems during the Hapsberg era?
6. How effective was the reign of Ferdinand and Isabella?
7. What was the importance of Castile and Aragon in Spanish history?
I’ve recently been studying up on Spanish history too.
1.) The Muslims had a great deal of influence on language and writing as other contributors have said. But more importantly they Muslims introduced acurate cartography (or map making) and improved the compass. This of course influenced the Portugese and then then the Spanish. As a negative influence the Moors were a problem and it wasn’t unitl 1492 when Spain rid their country and united that they were able to explore across the Atlantic.
2.) The Reconquista was so important to Spanish history because for the conquistadors and others it was a recognition from the Pope which by proxy meant God himself that by enlaving the Indians for labor but educating them to be Christians was acceptible behavior in the eyes of the church. The natives the Spanish enslaved were essential to the encomida (much like fuedalism) system they had in the Americas.
3.) The effects of the Crusades were that trade routes espically for spices to the East were opened up. As well with the death of many knights and noble in the Holy Land alot of fuedal land was redistributed to lower class people which had not happened before in the past.
4.) The effects of the Inquisition were almost entirely negative as its religious fevor caused the deaths of thousands of innocent people. It reinforced the persecution of the Jews. Likely most important though it proved that even in that day and age when people began to explore the greater world around them religious superstition still held great sway.
5.) The Hapsberg era problems as others have mentioned was the Holy Roman Empire area (mostly parts of Germany and upper Italy). The Empire was a misnomer as it wasn,t Holy, Roman, or an Empire. The greatest problem was constant strife between different pricipalities including the 100 years war. Unification was impossible and each prince had his own religion either Catholic or Protestant and subsequently without choice if you were of the lower class and lived in the area you were the religion you prince was.
6.) The reign of Ferdinand and Isabella was pretty effective. Their marriage united Spain which had not one nation but rather two regions of Castile and Seville. Part of the reason that Ferdinand and Isabella’s rule was so sucessful was because they funded many voyages (Such as Columbus’) to the New World and had great deals of Gold and Silver flowing into their Country. You might say it wasn’t sucessful though as it was during their reign that hostilities between England and Spain and hostilities between Portugal and Spain greatly increased.
7. Castile and Aragon in Spanish history were as I mentioned earlier different regions in Spain but one whole nation Aragon merges with Castile which was a powerful region ruled by Isabella by divine right (recognized by God) when she marries Ferdinand froem Seville also a divine right ruler and once the Moors are pushed out of Spain in 1492 people believe that God wants and unified Spain. Further once New World aquisitions and the conquering of the Aztecs and the Incas occur people in Spain believe in their “right” to rule.