What made Spain unique in the Middle Ages?
Spain developed three different literary traditions during the Middle Ages. The presence in the Iberian Peninsula of three different established religions–Christianity, Islam and Judaism–gave rise to three distinctive intellectual communities and practices.
What was Spain like in medieval times?
Medieval Spain was as much as a network of cities as it was interconnected provinces. Cities were cultural and administrative centers, the seats of bishops and sometimes kings, with markets and housing expanding from a central fortified stronghold.
What was medieval Western Europe?
The period of European history which we call “Medieval” is usually regarded as consisting of the thousand years or so between the fall of the Roman Empire in the west (in the 5th century), through to the period of the Renaissance in the 15th century.
When did the medieval period end in Spain?
In Spain, however, 1492 is considered the end of their medieval period and the beginning of the modern era. The period was one of human expansion, centralization and great political upheaval and violence, resulting in the foundation of many modern European countries.
When did Spain become a kingdom?
1479 – The Kingdom of Spain is formed when Isabella and Ferdinand are made King and Queen uniting Aragon and Castile. 1492 – The Reconquista ends with the conquest of Grenada.
Why were castles built during medieval times?
Castles were common in Europe during the Middle Ages and were often the homes of royal families or other powerful people. The main purpose of castles was to protect the people who lived there from invasions. They were also a status symbol to show other people how important a family was.
What was the history of medieval Spain like?
Yet the history of Medieval Spain was violent and in the end, with the arrival of the Renaissance, Humanism, and the national states, Jews first, and Muslims later, fell victim of massive expulsions. The two non-Christian minorities took their few possessions and their long tradition to Northern Africa.
Why was Western Europe so dominant?
The political dominance of western Europe was an unexpected outcome and had really big consequences, so I thought: let’s explain it. Many theories purport to explain how the West became dominant. For example, that Europe became industrialized more quickly and therefore became wealthier than the rest of the world.
Was Morocco part of Spain in the Middle Ages?
Morocco and the rest of the Maghreb was never a separate political entity from Spain during the Middle Ages. After the fall of the Cordoba Caliphate in 1033, Al-Andalus became a suzerainty of the Moroccan Al-Moravids, and later the Al-Mohads.
How did Europe become so wealthy compared to other countries?
For example, that Europe became industrialized more quickly and therefore became wealthier than the rest of the world. Or, that when Europeans began to travel the world, people in other countries did not have the immunity to fight off the diseases they brought with them. How is your theory different?