1. Spain Looks Westward
Read page 193

2. Geography and Religion
Spain’s location between Africa and Europe greatly influenced their religious history
At the beginning of the Middle Ages, almost everyone in Spain, as in the rest of Europe, was Christian
Internal struggles and a series of weak rulers left the region vulnerable to attack
Muslims eventually conquered Spain and Portugal
Many Christians converted to Islam, but some did not

3. Muslim Culture and Society
Learning was greatly valued
The world’s first university was established in Cairo
Most historians agree that Muslim Spain was a society that was relatively tolerant of religious minorities
Eventually a series of ineffective rulers lead to the loss of a unified Muslim state
The Reconquista began as a way for the Christian kingdoms to expand their power and infuence

4. Creating a Christian Spain
It took 100s of years but eventually Spain became a Christian land
King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella were so devoted to their religion that the pope in Rome gave them a special title – Catholic Monarchs
The first step King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella took to unit Spain under one religion was to take of the Spanish Inquisition from the Church
The Inquisition became a state-run system of courts where Church run officials put believers of religious ideas other than Catholicism on trail
Muslims and Jews were given a choice – convert or be exiled

5. Spain Began to Expand
As you read the King and Queen changed their minds and allowed Colombus to sail westward to what he thought was Asia
There were three main reason for this:
God, Gold and Glory!
Research Assignment