The Reconquista in Spain

The Reconquista was a centuries-long process in which Christian kingdoms in the Iberian Peninsula gradually reclaimed territory from Muslim rule, who had controlled parts of Spain since the early 8th century. Starting around the 8th century, Christian forces pushed southward, gradually recapturing land, culminating in 1492 with the fall of the Nasrid Kingdom of Granada. This period shaped Spain’s cultural, political, and religious identity, resulting in the unification of Spain under Christian rule and the eventual expulsion of Jewish and Muslim communities. The Reconquista reflects the complex history of conflict, diplomacy, and cultural exchange on the Iberian Peninsula.