Taifa Kingdoms
The Taifa Kingdoms were a series of independent Muslim principalities in medieval Spain that emerged after the fall of the Umayyad Caliphate of Cordoba in the early 11th century. These kingdoms varied in size and power and were marked by political fragmentation. During the Reconquista, a lengthy campaign by Christian kingdoms to reclaim territory from Muslim rule, the Taifa Kingdoms became vulnerable. Some formed alliances with Christians against rival Taifas, while others were gradually conquered. The Reconquista, which spanned several centuries, ultimately led to the fall of the last significant Muslim stronghold, Granada, in 1492.
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Taifa kingdoms were a series of independent Muslim-ruled states that emerged in the Iberian Peninsula, particularly in present-day Spain and Portugal, after the decline of the Umayyad Caliphate of Córdoba in the 11th century. Each taifa was governed by its own leader, often a local noble or a former governor, leading to a rich cultural and political diversity. These kingdoms were characterized by their contributions to art, science, and philosophy. However, they also faced internal conflicts and external pressures, particularly from Christian kingdoms, which gradually led to their decline and the unification of Spain under Christian rule by the late 15th century.