When the Emirate of Granada, the last Islamic political entity on the Iberian peninsula, surrendered to the combined forces of Aragon and Castile in 1492, it did so under the terms of the Treaty of Granada, drawn up the previous year. Chief among that agreement’s terms were a series of guarantees for the emirate’s Muslim … Continue reading Today in European history: the first Alpujarras Rebellion begins (1499)
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Today in European history: the “Reconquista” ends (1492)
January 2, 1492, was the official end-date of the cleverly-named Reconquista, as it is the date upon which the last Muslim hold-out in Iberia, the city of Granada, was formally handed over to Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castile. While this obviously is a date of significant historical import, it’s also a little anti-climactic. … Continue reading Today in European history: the “Reconquista” ends (1492)
Today in European history: the Treaty of Granada (1491)
The end of the "Reconquista" came on January 2, 1492, when the last Muslim ruler of Granada, the Nasirid Sultan Abu Abdullah Muhammad XII ("Boabdil" to the Spaniards, for whom "Abu Abdullah" was apparently too hard to pronounce), went into exile in Morocco. But by that point his departure was a formality. Boabdil was obliged … Continue reading Today in European history: the Treaty of Granada (1491)
Today in North African history: the Green March begins (1975)
When I think of the Spanish Empire, I think of the vast swathes of the Americas that were Spanish colonies until the independence movement of the early 19th century. But it survived beyond that period, albeit substantially reduced in size. A few other places (Cuba, the Philippines) lingered under Spanish control, but were gradually peeled … Continue reading Today in North African history: the Green March begins (1975)
Islamic History, part 24: the Islamic West through the early 10th century
Islamic History Series OK, I know last time I said we'd be getting onto Islamic theology with this one, but that's coming next time. Instead, let's talk about what's going on in North Africa and Spain in the period through 909 (in Africa) and 912 (in Spain), because if we don't do it now we'll … Continue reading Islamic History, part 24: the Islamic West through the early 10th century
The Foreign Exchanges Companion 