How did the history of Spain affect its Worldview?

Invasion and Colonization O Romans – 3 rd century O Left a Christian belief system O Northern European tribes O Also followed Christian faith O Moors (from North Africa) – 711 O Muslim O Ruled for 700 years O Muslims, Jews, and Christian allowed to practice own faiths

Four Kingdoms O Christian kingdoms became more powerful O Tried to take back Muslim-dominated south

Reconquista (the re-conquest) O Most of Europe was Christian O Muslims and Jews not accepted in the rest of Europe because of their religion O Reconquista led by Castile, but joined by Aragon and Catalonia in 1200s O Left only the small kingdom of Granada

1492 O Granada taken by Isabella and Ferdinand’s troops O Moorish (Muslim) control of Spain now over O Marks the end of more than 700 years of war O Christians believed it was their duty to convert non-believers to Christianity

Unification of Spain O Defeat of Granada brought it under Castilian influence O Castile and Aragon united when Isabella and Ferdinand married in 1479 O France and Portugal opposed the unification of these two kingdoms O Noblemen in both countries plotted to separate the union

Post-Reconquista O Roman Catholic faith – supported and dominated by Ferdinand and Isabella – became the only true faith in Spain O Used religion to control people O Spanish Inquisition – a civil and religious court to judge if Jews and Muslims had truly converted to Christianity as they claimed

However… O Soon used to judge any citizen was accused of not following the Catholic faith O Torture was used to: O To force confessions or secret information from those accused O To discourage dissent and intellectual freedom O To persuade Jews, Muslims, and other non-believers to accept Christianity

Desire for Exploration O Better economies, new technologies, more stable governmentsled to a strong desire and ability to explore undiscovered lands O Spain had previously explored Africa O Looked to Western Mediterranean and across the Atlantic

1492 O Christopher Columbus sailed the Atlantic; land in the Caribbean claimed for Spain O Motives for this included: O Religion (missionaries) O Economic gain

Ethnocentrism O Saw their culture and religion as superior O Treated other cultures and religions as inferior O Justified harsh treatment of people they conquered

Discussion 1. How might Spain’s worldview have been different from other Western Europena kingdoms. Explain the effects of both Spain’s geography and history 2. In what ways might eh wars serve to unite the country?

1. Many Jews and Muslims outwardly converted to Roman Catholocism, but continued to practice their religion in private. What