8th–15th centuriesReputable sourceWell documented
The Reconquista in Spain
On the timeline · around 8th–15th centuries ·
What happened
In Iberia, Christian kingdoms waged a centuries-long campaign — the Reconquista — to reconquer the peninsula from its Muslim rulers. Blessed by the popes as a crusade, it ground on for centuries until the fall of Granada, the last Muslim state in Spain, in 1492 — the same year Columbus sailed west.
Why it matters
The Reconquista showed that crusading was not confined to the Holy Land. Its completion in 1492 united Spain, expelled its Jews and Muslims, and freed a militant, confident nation to launch the conquest of the Americas.
Sources
- World History Encyclopedia. Reconquista · Reputable source
Related timelines
- The Age of Exploration → — 1492: Granada falls and Columbus sails