4.How did The Christian Kingdom advance?
The expansion of the Christian Kingdoms
The Reconquest involved the occupation od territory from one river valley to another .During the 9th and 10th centuries,the Christian kingdoms advanced south to the River Duero valley.It was not a military advance;groups of peasants colonisedthe land and formed small villages in a process of repopulation.
The Tajo and Ebro valleys
In 1031,Al-Andalus was divided into taifas.The taifas were not very strong,and this enabled the Christian kingdoms to expand towards the south.To avoid attacks,the Muslim kingdoms paird parias,or amounts of gold,to the Christian kingdoms.
During the 11th and 12th centuries,Portugal and Castile ectended beyond the River Tajo.Aragon conquered Zaragoza and Teruel.Catalonia extended as far as Tortosa.Conquered territory was divided into areas dominated by a city or town.In order to encourage emigration,the kings gave privileges called fueros to the towns.Much of the land was underpopulated.It was given to military orders,which created large feudal estates.
The Guadalquivir valley,Levante and the Balearic Islands
In 1212,the Muslims lost the battle of Las Navas de Tolosa.This turning-point opened up Al-Andalus to the Christian armies.Portugal conquered the Algarve,Castile took over Andalusia and Murcia,and the Crown of Aragon expanded into Valencia and the Balearic Islands.
Three cultures
After the conquest,there were three main cultures:Christian,Islamic and Jewish.These three groups usually lived separately.They did not intermarry,and they had their own customs.
The Christians were the dominant group.
The Mudejars were Muslims who remained in Christian territory.The Christian kings promised to respect their customs,but their situation started to deteriorate in the 13th century,and many of them moved to Granada.
The Jews.Their relations with the other groups were tense,especially from the 14th century onwards.They were sometimes persecuted.5.How did the Crown of Castile evolve
The Crown of Castile
Castile gradually became the most powerfull kingdom.In 1085,Alfonso VI conquered Toledo,and the Tajo valley fell into the Castilin hands.After the Muslim defeat at Navas de Tolosa(1212),the Christian kings conquerd alms all of Andalusia.However,in the 12th century,Portugal became independent.In 1230,Ferdinand III united Castile and Leopn,and founded the Crown of Castile.
Govement
The Crown of Castile as a unified state,with the same institutions and the same law for the whole of its territory.The Castilian king had great power.He could make laws,declare war and pass judgement.The Castilian Cortes could not legislate.Their function was to approve or reject new taxes.
Economy and society
The economy was based on agriculture and stockbreeding.Merino sheep were very important.Their high quality wool was exported,or used in the textile industry.The sheep breeders held assemblies,called mestas,to discuss their problems.In 1273,the Honourable Council of the Mesta was created.It was granted privileges,such as the right for sheep and cattle to graze on peasants land.The Mesta was very powerfull.The sale of wool contributed to the development of craftsmanship and trade.Trade fairs,like those held in Medina del Campo,were very important.
Architecture
There are interesting examples of the Romanesque style in Castile,such as the churches of San Martin de Fromista in Palencia,and part of the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela.There are also outstanding examples of the Gothic style,such as the cathedrals of Leon,Burgos and Toledo,which were all built in the 13th century.
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