El Reconquista
AOKs: History, Ethics, Religious Knowledge Systems
Real Life Situation:
After a very long war between Christians and Muslims to control the seats of power in the Iberian peninsula, the Muslim rulers were eventually defeated and the last remaining Islamic dynasty surrendered in Granada. After nearly 700 years, Southern Spain and Portugal were 'reconquested' by Christian rulers. The above image depicts Boabdil peacefully surrendering to King Ferdinand. However, the days, weeks and months that followed this 'peace' were quite gruesome. Muslims were promised that they were free to remain living in Granada and could practice their religion freely. The reality was quite different and eventually remaining Muslims were told they must convert, leave or be killed. Some refer to this event as a liberation, others refer to it as a genocide.
First Order Questions:
How much of the story of the Reconquista can we be relatively sure of?
What evidence of this period still remain?
Second Order Questions:
How can language influence the ways in which we view history?
There is no such thing as a peaceful surrender. Discuss.
After a very long war between Christians and Muslims to control the seats of power in the Iberian peninsula, the Muslim rulers were eventually defeated and the last remaining Islamic dynasty surrendered in Granada. After nearly 700 years, Southern Spain and Portugal were 'reconquested' by Christian rulers. The above image depicts Boabdil peacefully surrendering to King Ferdinand. However, the days, weeks and months that followed this 'peace' were quite gruesome. Muslims were promised that they were free to remain living in Granada and could practice their religion freely. The reality was quite different and eventually remaining Muslims were told they must convert, leave or be killed. Some refer to this event as a liberation, others refer to it as a genocide.
First Order Questions:
How much of the story of the Reconquista can we be relatively sure of?
What evidence of this period still remain?
Second Order Questions:
How can language influence the ways in which we view history?
There is no such thing as a peaceful surrender. Discuss.
