What happened to the Muslims in Spain and Portugal?

Summary

The video details the rise and fall of the Muslim population on the Iberian Peninsula, beginning with the Muslim conquest in 711. After establishing dominance, Muslims flourished, but the Reconquista, starting in the north, gradually reduced their presence. By the end of the 15th century, Spain’s Christian monarchy initiated forced conversions, leading to the marginalization and persecution of Muslims, particularly with the expulsion and forced baptism of the Moriscos. Despite moments of resistance, such as rebellions, Islam was effectively extinguished in Spain by the 18th century.

Takeaways

• 😀 In 711 AD, Muslim General Tariq ibn Ziyad led the conquest of the Iberian Peninsula, establishing Islamic rule over most of the region.
• 😀 By the year 1100 AD, the Muslim population on the Iberian Peninsula, consisting of Arabs, Berbers, and local converts, was estimated at around 5.5 million.
• 😀 The Christian Reconquista began as northern Christian kingdoms started pushing back against Muslim rule, ultimately reclaiming much of the territory over several centuries.
• 😀 The fall of Granada in 1492 marked the end of the last Muslim state in Spain, reducing the Muslim population to around 500,000.
• 😀 Muslims who stayed in Christian territories after the Reconquista were known as 'Mudar,' meaning domesticated, and initially enjoyed religious tolerance under the Treaty of Granada.
• 😀 From 1492 onwards, Christian monarchs started implementing policies that gradually reduced religious freedoms for Muslims, beginning with the Alhambra Decree that expelled Jews from Spain.
• 😀 Cardinal Cisneros initiated mass forced baptisms of Muslims, and many Arabic books were burned in the late 15th century, limiting Islamic cultural and religious expression.
• 😀 By 1525, Muslims were given a choice between conversion to Christianity or exile, with many opting for conversion to avoid the hardships of exile.
• 😀 Muslims who converted to Christianity were known as 'Moriscos,' though many secretly continued practicing Islam despite their public conversion.
• 😀 King Philip II of Spain banned the use of the Arabic language, Islamic dress, and customs in 1567, leading to the second rebellion of the Moriscos.
• 😀 The final expulsion of Muslims from Spain occurred under King Philip III in the early 17th century, and the last significant persecutions of Moriscos happened in Granada in 1727, marking the end of indigenous Islam in Spain.

Q & A

What was the Iberian Peninsula known as before the Muslim conquest?

The Iberian Peninsula was known as Hispania, a name given to it by the Romans after the fall of the Western Roman Empire.

How did Islam spread to the Iberian Peninsula?

Islam spread to the Iberian Peninsula after the military conquests of the Arab forces, beginning in 711 AD, led by General Tariq ibn Ziyad. The region was quickly brought under Muslim control.

Who was Tariq ibn Ziyad and what role did he play in the Muslim conquest of the Iberian Peninsula?

Tariq ibn Ziyad was a Muslim general who led the military campaign that resulted in the conquest of the Iberian Peninsula. His landing in Gibraltar on April 30, 711 AD marked the beginning of Muslim rule in the region.

What was the significance of the Treaty of Granada?

The Treaty of Granada, signed in 1491, allowed the Muslim population in the Kingdom of Granada to remain in the territory under Christian rule. It promised them religious tolerance and the right to continue using their language, schools, and laws.

What caused the decline of the Muslim population in the Iberian Peninsula?

The decline of the Muslim population began with the Christian Reconquista, which involved a series of military campaigns to reclaim the Iberian Peninsula from Muslim rule. The fall of Granada in 1492 marked the end of Muslim political power in the region.

Who were the Moriscos, and what happened to them?

The Moriscos were Muslims who converted to Christianity, often under duress. Many continued to practice Islam in secret, but faced persecution, forced cultural assimilation, and eventual expulsion from Spain in the early 17th century.

What was the Alhambra Decree, and how did it affect Muslims in Spain?

The Alhambra Decree, issued in 1492, ordered the expulsion of Jews from the kingdoms of Castile and Aragon. It was followed by increasing restrictions on Muslims, including forced conversions and the banning of Islamic practices.

What happened to Arabic books in Spain during the Christian reconquest?

During the Christian Reconquista, particularly after 1499, Arabic books were ordered to be surrendered and most were burned, with only medical manuscripts being spared. This represented an effort to erase Islamic influence from the region.

What was the significance of the 1567 decree issued by King Philip II?

In 1567, King Philip II issued a decree that banned the use of the Arabic language, the practice of Islam, and the wearing of Islamic dress in Spain. This further persecuted the Moriscos and led to a second rebellion.

How did the expulsion of Muslims from Spain come about, and when did it officially end?

The expulsion of Muslims from Spain was finalized by a decree issued by King Philip III in 1609, which led to the forced removal of remaining Muslims. The last mass persecutions of Moriscos occurred in 1727, marking the end of indigenous Islam in Spain.