The Reconquista
The Reconquista was a centuries-long series of military campaigns by Christian kingdoms to reclaim the Iberian Peninsula from Muslim rule, concluding in 1492 with the fall of Granada.
Spanning nearly eight centuries from initial Muslim conquest to final Christian reconquest, this prolonged campaign fundamentally shaped the religious and political identity of the entire Iberian Peninsula.
Nearly Eight Centuries of Conflict
The Reconquista spanned an extraordinary period of approximately 781 years, from the initial Muslim conquest of Iberia in 711 to the final Christian victory in 1492.
The Fall of Granada
The Reconquista concluded with the fall of Granada in 1492, the last Muslim stronghold on the Iberian Peninsula, falling to the combined forces of Ferdinand and Isabella.
Shaping Spanish and Portuguese Identity
The prolonged conflict significantly shaped the religious and political identity of both Spain and Portugal, contributing to their emergence as unified Christian kingdoms.
Enabling the Age of Exploration
The Reconquista's conclusion in 1492 coincided remarkably with the beginning of the Age of Exploration, as the newly unified Spanish crown funded Columbus's first voyage that same year.
