Reconquista vs World History

What was happening in the REST OF THE WORLD during the Reconquista? Mind-blowing comparisons from 711-1609!

Muslims invade Iberian Peninsula

Changed European history forever. Muslims brought advanced mathematics, medicine, architecture....

711

Meanwhile in the world...

  • China: Tang Dynasty at its peak under Emperor Xuanzong
  • Japan: Nara period begins, capital established

Charlemagne creates Spanish March buffer zone

Created Catalonia! The Spanish March evolved into County of Barcelona....

800

Meanwhile in the world...

  • France: Charlemagne crowned Holy Roman Emperor by Pope
  • England: Vikings begin raiding British coast

Alfonso VI conquers Toledo

Massive! Toledo had incredible libraries. Christians discovered Greek philosophy, Arabic science, Je...

1085

Meanwhile in the world...

  • England: Domesday Book compiled by William the Conqueror
  • Europe: Investiture Controversy (Pope vs Emperor)

Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa - HUGE Christian victory

Turning point! Muslims never recovered. Within 250 years, only Granada remained....

1212

Meanwhile in the world...

  • England: King John signs Magna Carta (1215 - close!)
  • Asia: Genghis Khan building Mongol Empire

Alfonso X "the Wise" rules - Golden Age of learning

Alfonso X commissioned 420 Cantigas, translated Arabic texts, created first vernacular law code. Ren...

1250

Meanwhile in the world...

  • France: Louis IX (Saint Louis) leads 7th Crusade
  • Italy: Florence becomes major banking center

Black Death hits Spain (Reconquista pauses)

Reconquista basically stopped for 50 years. Everyone too busy dying. Changed labor economics forever...

1348

Meanwhile in the world...

  • WORLDWIDE: Black Death kills 75-200 million (30-60% of Europe!)
  • China: Yuan Dynasty weakened by plague

Massive anti-Jewish pogroms across Spain

Thousands of Jews killed or forced to convert. Created "conversos" (converted Jews) - caused centuri...

1391

Meanwhile in the world...

  • England: Richard II faces Peasants' Revolt (1381)
  • Europe: Western Schism - TWO competing Popes!

Only Granada remains Muslim (rest of Spain Christian)

Granada becomes refugee center for Muslims fleeing Christian conquest. Population swells. Last stand...

1453

Meanwhile in the world...

  • MAJOR: Constantinople falls to Ottoman Turks - END of Byzantine Empire!
  • England: Wars of the Roses begin

RECONQUISTA ENDS! Granada falls. Jews expelled. Columbus sails.

Triple whammy! Reconquista ends, Jews expelled, New World discovered - ALL IN ONE YEAR. Spain become...

1492

Meanwhile in the world...

  • AMERICAS: Columbus reaches Caribbean - changes world history FOREVER
  • Italy: Leonardo da Vinci painting, Michelangelo sculpting

All Muslims forced to convert or leave (Moriscos created)

Created "Moriscos" (converted Muslims). Most hid their true faith. Inquisition hunted them for centu...

1502

Meanwhile in the world...

  • AMERICAS: Portuguese establish Brazil
  • Persia: Safavid Dynasty establishes Shia Islam as state religion

Moriscos expelled - Final chapter of Reconquista

300,000 Moriscos expelled! Lost skilled farmers, artisans. Spanish economy devastated. Some historia...

1609

Meanwhile in the world...

  • AMERICAS: English establish Jamestown (1607)
  • Italy: Galileo invents telescope

Wild Timeline Facts

781 Years!

Reconquista lasted longer than USA has existed (248 years) + entire Ottoman Empire (623 years)!

Same Generation

1492: Granada falls, Columbus sails, Jews expelled - three world-changing events in ONE year!

East Meets West

1453: Constantinople (Christian) falls to Muslims, Granada (Muslim) about to fall to Christians!

Knowledge Transfer

1085: Toledo captured - Europe got Greek philosophy, Arabic science, and algebra all at once!