Final answer:
The Reconquista was initiated by Christian rulers in an effort to reclaim the Iberian Peninsula from Muslim Moors. It was fueled by a combination of religious zeal and political ambition, with the ultimate goal of restoring Christian rule. The end of this nearly eight-hundred-year effort in 1492 marked a significant epoch in Spanish history, leading to forced conversions and expulsions of non-Christians.
Step-by-step explanation:
Why Did Christians Launch the Reconquista?
The Reconquista, which means "reconquest" in Spanish, was initiated by the Christians as a response to the Muslim Moors' conquest of the Iberian Peninsula, starting in 711 AD. This long series of campaigns aimed to reclaim territories that Christian rulers considered their own and was driven by both religious and political motivations. With the Islamic conquest of Europe halted at the Battle of Tours in 732, the stage was set for the Christian kingdoms in the north of the peninsula to start the slow push back against Muslim control.
The Reconquista became intertwined with the larger religious struggle between Christian and Muslim kingdoms, especially as the Crusades commenced. Major victories such as the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa in 1212 and eventually the fall of Granada in 1492 highlight the protracted nature of this holy war. The entire effort spanned almost eight hundred years, reflecting an era where religious and territorial ambitions were deeply connected.
For the Christians, it was as much about reclaiming land for their crowns as it was about furthering the influence of Christianity. The Catholic Church strongly supported these endeavors as victories for the faith. This mindset carried forward into the Age of Discovery, where the Spanish empire would later seek to convert indigenous populations in the New World to Christianity.
The year 1492 marks a pivotal moment in the Reconquista with Ferdinand and Isabella's successful conquest of Granada. This victory not only signified the end of Muslim rule in Spain but also set a precedent for religious and cultural unity under the Catholic Church, leading to the expulsion of Jews and Muslims or their forced conversion to Christianity. The Roman Catholic Church, celebrating this as a triumph for Christianity, awarded the Spanish monarchs the Patron ado Real, symbolizing the close link between the church and the state that was fundamental to the Reconquista.