Final answer:
The Reconquista was a military and religious action, with Christian rulers aiming to reclaim and Christianize the Iberian Peninsula, ending in 1492.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks about the nature of the Reconquista, a period in which the Christian kingdoms of the northern Iberian Peninsula sought to reclaim territories controlled by Muslim powers. The Reconquista was both a military and religious action, deeply intertwined with the Christian identity of the Spanish. The process culminated in 1492 with the fall of Granada, signaling the end of Muslim rule in Spain. During this period, there was a strong interplay between military conquests and religious motivations, as Christian rulers aimed to solidify their faith across the entire region, often leading to intolerance and forced conversions of Muslims and Jews.