The History of Arabs in Spain
The Arabs came first in the year AD 711 to Spain and conquered Toledo and Córdoba. It took only seven years and the hispanic peninsula belonged to the Arabs except a small part in the north. During this time the Arabian Spain were called Al-Andalus and Córdoba was its centre.
Christians learned the Arabian language, therefor those Christians in Al-Andalus were given the Arabian expression “Musta’Ribun”. This was the reason that the Arabian language became also the language of Non-Arab’s in Spain. In spite of the safety, which the Non-Arabs in Arabian Spain had, did many convert to the Arabian belief and became the same rights as the native Arabs.
The Arabs brought with them their knowledge and know-how, which was very helpful for the country’s development. Their irrigation system for example made the fields fertile, which raised agriculture to the highest standard in europe at that time. Plants were imported, such as oranges from Persia just to name one. Another important aspect for the economy was the export of leather, ceramic, paper and material, which had been luxury products in Europe, because they hadn’t had the superior knowledge of the Arabs at the time. There were not only important Islamic scientists, but also the Non-Arabian scientists were supported on the Iberian peninsula.
What the Muslims on the Iberian Peninsula had so laboriously developed, was unfortunately damaged by the reconquest. In AD 722 the Muslims suffered a defeat in Covadonga, which is considered the beginning of the reconquest. Outside of Asturias further Christian realms were formed, which were expanding more and more to the south. When the Christian realms in the north noticed the fact that the Islamic area was weakened by discrepancies among the Muslims, they saw their chance come for the reconquest.
In the year AD 1085 the Christians took Toledo again, which signified an enormous defeat for the Muslims. Since that time the Muslims had to hand over more and more areas. After years of war the Muslims had to surrender Granada in 1492; thereby the reconquest was said to be completed. With the defeat of the Islamic rule the high scientific levels created by the Muslims could not be maintained, which had catastrophic consequences for the country.
The spain of the Muslims changed completely in the hands of the Christians. They were not capable of keeping the irrigation systems in good condition not to speak of constructing new irrigation canals, so that the once fertile land became deserted. The Christian conquerors were also not able to achieve something similar in scientific areas as their hated enemies, the Muslims. The Universities were run-down and the cities impoverished, so that the country lost its attraction.
The new rulers tried first to hold on to the coexistence of the religions like the Islamic model. Thus for instance the free practice of their faith was contractually assured to the Muslims after the defeat of Granada. What had, theoretically been fixed on the paper, however could not been found in practice. Under Isabella’s and Ferdinand’s order Ximénez had to force the Muslim population to convert and the Arabic language as colloquial language was forbidden. When the Muslims refused to comply, innumerable Muslims were killed and the mosques were set on fire. The government reacted to this resistance by setting a deadline, by which they either had to convert to the Christian faith or to leave the country, leaving all their property to the church. In fact they only had the choice between baptism and death, because they were only allowed to leave the country by a payment of a certain sum.
