1. Spain c. 1200 Two powers: Castile-Leon (united in 1230)
Barcelona-Aragon (1137)
Portugal independent but Navarre falls under French influence.
Thirteenth century—great expansion but little political stability
Old Christian land/”new” lands/urban revolution and many towns founded by royal charter
1188—Cortes of Leon invites representatives of cities—deliberate financial, legal matters
By 1250 all of the Spanish kingdoms have urban reps. In their respective Cortes.

2. Spain 1210

3. Urban Life/Expansion
Urban life much less developed in south—Moorish areas had been urbanized but after conquest, they fled or were expelled.
In Castile, large herds of sheep and cattle—newly conquered land divided into great estates—Spain exports model to New world. “land of castles”
1212 Las Navas de Tolosa—Alfonso VIII of Castile—Peter II of Aragon plus Navarre and Portugal—Innocent III calls it a Crusade so it draws more western support.
Tensions—westerners do not like lenient treatment of Jews and Muslims—many leave.

4. Result
Castile takes Cordoba, Seville, Cadiz and attempts an invasion of n. Africa but plague breaks out. Moors reduced to Granada-Malaga.
Aragon conquered Balearic Islands and Valencia (1238). Valencia had a large Muslim population—less chance of constitutional gov’t. due to religious divisions in areas. Model: Muslim peasants working Christian farms paying heavy rents to Christian owners. Also, agricultural slave labor.

5. Politics Castile—Alfonso X (1252-1284) King of the Three Religions
Patron of learning—at Toledo—Jewish scholars translated Islamic philosophy into Latin, Castilian.
Astronomical tables, mathematics
Own jurists create Las Siete Partidas—codified Castilian law—mixed with Roman, canonical influences.
But—unsuccessful bid to become H.R.E.

6. More politics
When eldest son died, he tried to transfer title to grandson (correct according to Roman law)—younger son Sancho rebelled—civil war—support of nobles.
Sancho IV ( ) continual succession crises

7. Aragon Peter II of Aragon killed at Muret in 1213.
Son James I ( )
Conquered Balearics and Valencia—but tension between Aragon and Barcelona. Aragon-land—Barcelona—seafaring.
Result: quest for a Mediterranean empire
By 1300—Corsica, Sardinia, and Sicily all pass to Aragonese rule.
Barcelona—major port—rivals Genoa and Venice.

8. 15th c. Aragon