How Did The Moors Influence Spanish Culture

In the region of Spain there was a mix of religions: Jewish, Muslim, and Christianity. These religions and their presence are some of what motivated the Reconquista and the Inquisition. Many traits of modern Spanish culture can be traced back to these events. The Spanish Inquisition and the Reconquista had many consequence and lasting influences that exist today in Spain, through religion, architecture, and language.

The Reconquista started in 722 when the Muslims invaded the Iberian Peninsula and during this time period Christian kingdoms were spread out over the peninsula but did not have much power on the whole. But when the Reconquista started the Christian kingdoms began to push the Muslim Moorish states out of the peninsula and those invaders were some of the main targets of the Reconquista to take back Spain and put it under Christian rule again (“Reconquista”). The Reconquista began in 718 when King Pelayo of the Visigoths defeated the Muslim army in Alcama at the Battle of Covadonga, first significant victory of the Christians over the Moors.

Another way that the Moors influenced the Iberian Peninsula was through their specific type of architecture. Many characteristics include: slender columns, horse shoe arches, cupolas, which is a dome-like, structure on top of a building, being very airy, and having bright colors built the outer and inner parts of the structure (Buckingham). One example of this is the Alcazar of Seville, which is a palace and is dated back to the tenth century (Buckingham). This event is also a great influence for Spain because it has modernized its knowledge and architecture style, language structure and religion. These effects shape a part of what is known as Spain’s culture