• Where in Europe did a Muslim dynasty establish a state in the 700s?
• Who were the Moors, and how did they affect Spain during their rule?
• Describe the purpose, outcome, and effects of Reconquista:
• The Muslim dynasty that established a state in Europe in the 700s was the Umayyad Caliphate, which conquered the Iberian Peninsula and established Al-Andalus, a Muslim state in what is now southern Spain and Portugal.
• The Moors were Muslims of North African descent who invaded and conquered Spain in the early 8th century. During their rule, the Moors had a significant impact on Spain, bringing about a period of cultural flourishing known as the Golden Age of Al-Andalus. They introduced advanced irrigation techniques, built magnificent palaces and mosques, and promoted arts, science, and philosophy.
• Reconquista was a centuries-long campaign by Christian kingdoms in the Iberian Peninsula to reconquer territory from the Muslim Moors. The purpose of Reconquista was to drive the Muslims out of Spain and establish Christian dominance in the region. The Reconquista lasted from the 8th to the 15th centuries, ultimately resulting in the final conquest of Granada in 1492. The effects of Reconquista included the unification of Christian kingdoms in Spain, the establishment of a more unified Spanish state, and the expulsion or forced conversion of Muslims and Jews from Spain during the Inquisition.