The Christian kingdoms

Oxford University Press Espaa S.A., 2013

OBJECTIVES
1) Learn about the origin and development of the Christian kingdoms on the Iberian
Peninsula.
2) Understand the concepts of Reconquest and repopulation.

3) Identify the institutions of government and administration of the Christian

kingdoms.
4) Recognise the economic features and the social groups of the Christian kingdoms.

5) Learn about the buildings in the cities of the Christian kingdoms and the daily life
of the inhabitants.
6) Recognise the importance of Romance languages and distinguish the features of the
different architectural and artistic styles of the Christian kingdoms.
7) Obtain historical information from the analysis of different sources.

Oxford University Press Espaa S.A., 2013

CONTENT

1) The Christian principalities.

2) Reconquest and repopulation.
3) Politics, economy and society in the Christian kingdoms.
4) Daily life in the Christian cities.
5) Culture, architecture and art in the Christian kingdoms.

Oxford University Press Espaa S.A., 2013

Political development

What were the names of the Christian kingdoms on the Iberian Peninsula?

What was the Reconquest? When did it take place?

THE CHRISTIAN PRINCIPALITIES

POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT

711: Muslims occupy the Iberian Peninsula

Emergence of Christian Principalities

KINGDOMS

KINGDOM OF LEON AND ASTURIAS: - Defeat of Muslims in 722

- Alfonso I: First Asturian king
- 10th century: Kingdom of Leon
NAVARRA

- 8th century under Carolingian rule

- 9th century Kingdom of Navarra
- 11th century : Sancho III territorial expansion

CASTILLA

- Governed by kingdom of Leon independence in the 10th century

- 11th century: independent kingdom (Fernando I)
- 1139: they lose Portugal independent kingdom
- 1230 reunited again under the Crown of Castilla (Fernando III)

ARAGON - Under Navarra's rule till 11th century

- 1035: Independent kingdom and territorial expansion
- Union with County of Barcelona

Oxford University Press Espaa S.A., 2013

THE CHRISTIAN PRINCIPALITIES

RECONQUEST
8th -15th centuries Reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula by Christians
Until around year 1000 al-Andalus more powerful than Christian territories
11th century: Division of al-Andalus divided into taifa kingdoms
Year 1212 major Muslim defeat Battle of Navas de Tolosa (Jan)
13th century Christians occupied almost all the east and south and Balearic Islands

Nasrid Kingdom of Granada resisted the Christian advance from 1232 till 1492

Oxford University Press Espaa S.A., 2013

The Reconquest

Why was the Christian advance slow before 1000?

In which period did the Christians conquer most territory?

The Reconquest

When did the Almoravids and Almohads arrive in the peninsula?

How long did the Nasrid Kingdom last for?

THE CHRISTIAN PRINCIPALITIES

REPOPULATION

Establishment of Christian settlements in the lands previously occupied by Muslims

Different ways of repopulating:

North and centre of Iberian Peninsula colonists were given land to cultivate it. Kings
granted fueros and municipal charters (cartas puebla) to city councils (organization of new

settlements)
System of capitulaciones (Levante, Catalua, centre of the peninsula) agreement between
the muslim inhabitants of these territories and the king (special taxes)

System of repartimientos (Andaluca, Valenica, the Balearic Islands and Murcia) the kings
gave houses to those who had collaborated with the reconquest of lands.

Oxford University Press Espaa S.A., 2013

Repopulation

What were the three different ways of carrying out repopulation?

In which regions was each system used?

POLITICS, ECONOMY AND SOCIETY

POLITICAL ORGANIZATION
Christian political institutions:

MONARCHY

Feudal system (kingvassals)

As time went by, the kings asserted their authority over the nobility and clergy

CORTES

Nobility, clergy and bourgeoisie

Summoned by monarchs

The crowns of Navarra and Aragn were powerful and restricted the kings power

ADMINISTRATION

Institutions that administered justice Chancilleria (Castilla), Justicia Mayor (Aragn) in

charge of defending Aragonese fueros

Treasury (taxes)

The Merino (Castilla) and the veguer (Aragn) territorial delegates of the kings

Oxford University Press Espaa S.A., 2013

Political organisation

Which body is shown in this image?

Which groups were part of this body, and what were its powers?

POLITICS, ECONOMY AND SOCIETY

ECONOMY
PREDOMINANT ACTIVITIES Farming and livestock

CROWN OF ARAGON

vines, olive trees and vegetables

Craftwork metalwork, textiles, shipbuilding (foreign trade in Catalua)

Main trading ports: Barcelona & Valencia

PORTUGAL

Foreign trade and powerful fleet

CROWN OF CASTILLA

Rearing of ship introduction of the merino sheep (high quality wool)

Alfonso X founded the Mesta (association defending the interest of transhumant livestock holders)

Wool trade markets and fairs

Oxford University Press Espaa S.A., 2013

The economy

Which aspect of the Castilian economy is shown in this image?

Which activities were important to Aragns economy?

POLITICS, ECONOMY AND SOCIETY

SOCIETY
ESTATES OF THE REALM (PYRAMIDAL SYSTEM)

PRIVILEGED ESTATES
Nobility (high and low ricoshombres and infanzones)
Clergy (bishops, abbots and grand masters of military orders)

NON-PRIVILEGED ESTATES
Peasants (owners or coloni: dependant on feudal lord)
Bourgeoisie (they gained importance as cities grew bigger)

Until the 14th century, Christians, Muslims (Mudjar) and Jews coexisted peacefully.
After the Black Death Jews accused of causing it and persecuted in all the territories

Oxford University Press Espaa S.A., 2013

Society

Which social group is shown in this image? Why were its members
persecuted?

DAILY LIFE IN CHRISTIAN CITIES

Small cities (walled)
A lot of economic activity
Non-paved streets

Simple houses with small vegetable plots built with adobe, brick or rammed earth
Fountains and troughs around the city
Main buildings: church, cathedral, town hall
Jewish and Moorish quarters
There was a forge, where they did metalwork

Workshops for different types of professions: leather workers, tinkers, blacksmiths,

tailors, carpenters, weavers normally situated outside the city walls (potters kilns and
tanners and dyers workshops)

Oxford University Press Espaa S.A., 2013

Daily life

Which features of the Christian cities can you see in this image?
Which groups often had their own quarters in the city?

DAILY LIFE IN CHRISTIAN CITIES

Many inhabitants of the cities owned arable land and livestock
Their products were sold at the weekly city markets
Many sellers were women
The inhabitants of the city had little time for entertainment: dice games and

alquerque

Oxford University Press Espaa S.A., 2013

CULTURE, ARCHITECTURE AND ART

CULTURE
Spread of Ancient culture the Toledo School of Translators: Ancient Greek
and Muslim authors were translated from Arabic into Latin and later Castilian.
11th century: First texts in Romance language

Universities founded in Palencia, Salamanca and Valladolid

ARCHITECTURE AND ART
Asturian architecture and art

8th-10th centuries

Use of semicircular arches, barrel vaults and buttresses

Main buildings: Palace of Sta Maria de Naranco, Monastery of San Salvador de Valdedis

Gold and silversmithing and paintings as decoration of the churches

Oxford University Press Espaa S.A., 2013

CULTURE, ARCHITECTURE AND ART

Mozarabic architecture and art

From the 10th century

Use of horseshoe arch

Main buildings: Churches of Santiago de Pealba, San Cebrin de Mazote, Monastery of San Miguel de
la Escalada

Decorations with beatos (manuscripts with brightly coloured miniatures)

Romanesque architecture and art

Camino de Santiago spread of Romanesque art and architecture
Architecture: churches of San Martn de Frmista, Cathedral of Jaca, etc.

Santiago Cathedral: latin-cross plan, transept, ambulatory

Sculpture (Prtico de la Gloria), painting (Church of S Clemente de Tall, Pantheon of San
Isidoro)

Oxford University Press Espaa S.A., 2013

Romanesque architecture

How did Romanesque architecture spread across the Iberian Peninsula?

Which aspects of Romanesque architecture can you see in this image?

CULTURE, ARCHITECTURE AND ART

GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE AND ART
ARCHITECTURE
- Cathedrals of Burgos, Leon and Toledo (13th century)
- Civil architecture: lonja of Valencia, Palau de la Generalitat and hall of Consell de
Cent in Barcelona
SCULPTURE
- Doorways of Burgos Cathedral and Leon Cathedral
- Royal tombs monastery of Poblet (Tarragona)

PAINTINGS
- Miniatures Cantigas de Santa Mara (written by king Alfonso X)
- Altarpieces Monastery of Santa Mara de Sigena

Oxford University Press Espaa S.A., 2013

Gothic architecture

How many examples of Gothic architecture in Spain can you name?

Which features of Gothic architecture can you see in this image?