UNIT 6 The Iberian Peninsula between the 11

UNIT 6 The Iberian Peninsula between the 11 th and the 13 th centuries.

1. The political and territorial decline of Al-Ándalus • End of the Caliphate of Córdoba (1031) • Began a political and territorial decline. • Three periods: – 1. Taifa period (1031 -1085) – 2. The Almoravid period (1085 -1144) – Second Taifa period (1145 -1147) – 3. Almohad period (1147 -1224) – – Third Taifa period (1224 -1238) Nasrid Kingdom of Granada (1238 -1492)

1. 1 The Taifas (1031 -1085) • Taifa -Independent kingdoms in which the Caliphate of Córdoba was disintegrated in 1031. - Included the main city and its surrounding territory. • Were governed by different ethnic groups: Arabs, Slavs and Berbers. • The taifas were weak so the Northern Christians began to attack and conquered them. – First, the Christians charge the Muslims a special tax to avoid the conquest: the parias. – Second, they attacked and conquered the Taifa. • One of the most powerful taifas, Toledo, was conquered by Alfonso VI in 1085.

1. 2. The Almoravids (1085 -1144) • After the conquest of Toledo (1085) the rest of the taifas feared to be conquered. • They asked the Almoravids for help. • Almoravids: Nomadic Berbers that had form a large empire. (look at the first map in the page 113) • Battle of Sagrajas (1086): Almoravids defeated Alfonso VI. – The Christians were halted or stopped • Under the Almoravid rule over Al-Ándalus a strong religious radicalism were established. • In 1145 the Almoravid power declined Second taifa period. – The Christians started to attack Al-Ándalus again.

1. 3 The Almohads (1147 -1224) • Almohads: Empire that replaced the Almoravids in North Africa. (look at the second map in the page 113) • Battle of Alarcos (1195): – The Almohads defeated the Christians – Christians conquests were halted again • Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa (1212): – Most important battle during the process of Reconquista. – Christians defeated the Almohads The victory allowed them to advance through the Guadalquivir Valley. • Later, Al-Ándalus collapsed into the third taifa period. • 1238 -1492: Only the Nasrid Kingdom of Granada survived.

1. 4 Artistic evolution. • Art of the First Taifa Period – The different taifas compete with one another to have the best palace or artistic elements. – It is a period of military weakness but the culture flourished. – Characteristics • Use of poor materials (brick) • Decoration in plaster • Rich variety of arches: Mixtilinear and pointed horseshoe. – Examples: Aljafería (Zaragoza), Alcazaba (Málaga) • Almoravids (not important) • Almohads – Characteristics • Simple or austere architecture • Decoration with sebka (grid of rombuses) – Examples: Giralda (Sevilla) Torre del Oro (Sevilla).

2. Consolidation and advance of the Christian kingdoms. Muslims internal problems Great extension of territory to the south by the Christian kingdoms.

2. 1. The Kingdom of Castilla and León • Two kingdoms: Castilla and León – Several periods of union and separation – Definitive union in 1230 with Fernando III • Territorial expansion: – 11 th century • Alfonso VI conquered Toledo (1085) – 13 th century • Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa (1212) • Guadalquivir valley was incorporated by two great kings: – Fernando III “el santo”. – Alfonso X “el sabio”.

2. 2 The Eastern states and kingdoms. • The Crown of Aragon – Aragón and the Catalan counties united, forming the Crown of Aragón in 1137. • Marriage of Petronilla, heir to Aragón, and Ramón Berenguer IV, count of Barcelona (Catalan counties) – Territorial expansion • In Al-Ándalus: Jaime I incorporated Mallorca and Valencia (incorporated as new kingdoms within the Crown of Aragón) • In the Mediterranean: conquest of Sicily. • Kingdom of Navarra – It formed ties with France in order to avoid being conquered. – Territorial expansion: ended with the conquest of Calahorra (1045)

2. 3 Kingdom of Portugal • Became independent from León with Alfonso I Henriques. • Territorial expansion: Lisbon.

3. 1 The peninsular monarchies. • The peninsular states were governed by kings. – In theory, they had broad powers, such as: • • Control the army. Administration of Justice, receive taxes, grant titles. – But in practice, the power was limited by señoríos (lords´ land) and cities. • Great differences existed between kingdoms – In the Crown of Castilla • Unitarian monarchy (centralised kingdom) • The king had a lot of power because they say his power came from God. – In the Crown of Aragón • Federal monarchy (several kingdoms or regions within the Crown of Aragón, Catalan counties, Mallorca, Valencia-) – Each region had its own institutions and laws (not centralised). – Pact-based system Kings had less authority because they had to respect the kingdoms´laws.

3. 2 Institutions: Curia, Courts and councils. • Curia Regia: – Early medieval assembly that help the king in government. – Members of the noble class and the Church. • Courts: – Name that receive the parliaments in the Iberian peninsula. – Formed between the 12 th and the 13 th centuries. – Representatives of the three classes: • Nobility • Church • Cities. – Different power according to the Crown. • Crown of Castilla (less power) – – One set of Courts for the whole kingdom Functions: Approving new taxes (not ordinary taxes) • Crown of Aragón (more power) – – Each kingdom had its own Courts Functions: Approving new laws. • Navarra (similar to Aragón) • Councils: – Assemblies formed to advised the king after the birth of the Courts (replacing the Curia Regia) Important idea: The more power the Courts had, the less the king had.

3. 3 Territorial and municipal administration • General territorial administration during the Middle Ages. – Realengo: Land directly controlled by the King – Señorío: • Land of the nobility or clergy. • They were autonomous (the king did not controlled them). – Municipalities or cities: • They also were autonomous. • Had its own goverment: the Concejo or municipal council.

4. The repopulation of the conquered land (1) • Repopulation or resettlement: Installing new population to cultivate and defend the land taken from the Muslims. Presura. Unit 4: 6. 1 4. 2 4. 3

4. The repopulation of the conquered land (2) • 4. 1 Council o municipal repopulation – Where? Duero, Tajo and Ebro valleys. – How? • 1. Conquered land divided into concejos or municipalities (with a walled city –villa- and its territory- alfoz-) • 2. Each council received a municipal charter (fuero). – Municipal charter: Code of laws (document) given by the king that set up duties, rights and privileges. – The settles receive a house. • 4. 2 Repopulation by the military orders – Where? Between Tajo and Sierra Morena. – How? • The repopulation was entrusted to the military orders. • The military orders receive extensive manors called maestrazgos in exchange of defending the territory. – Why? Because this was a very dangerous borderlands. • 4. 3 Repopulation by repartimiento. – Where? In the Guadalquivir valley and Murcia – How? • The territory was distributed proportionately acording to participation in the conquest – Nobles: large manors or latifundia. – Commoners: small plots of land.