The Fall of Muslim Granada (1492)
On January 1, 1492, Muslim Granada fell. It was the last Muslim stronghold in Spain. After the whole of Spain fell to the Christians, the process of converting Muslims began. That was the only option for a Muslim to survive in Spain. Muslim life in Spain after the fall has never been the same again.
Moorish Resistance and Expulsion (1570-1614)
In 1570, the Moors (Muslims who had converted or disguised their Muslim identity as Christians) tried to build a resistance against Christian rule in the Alpujarras mountain region of Granada. Then in 1609, the ruling family decided to arbitrarily expel the Moors from Spain. In 1614, the last Moorish family left the Iberian Peninsula (modern Spain and Portugal). They were residents of Ricote.
Spain’s Vision of Religious Uniformity
Basically, the rulers wanted to make Spain a country of people who believed in one religion. For centuries, their view was that to live in Spain, one must be Christian. Otherwise, the person would have to be burned at the stake. The main task of the state inquisitors was to torture those who abandoned Christianity.
The Inquisition’s Surveillance of New Christians
Even if a Muslim or Jew declared his conversion to Catholicism, the state investigative agencies kept a close eye on them. If they were found to have practiced their former religion, they were severely punished. They were sentenced to death for this crime. They were called New Christians. In such difficult circumstances, some Muslims and Jews fled to America to protect themselves. Some of them were even sentenced to death in Lima, Peru.
Secret Muslim Identities in State Positions
Despite the strict state restrictions, Muslims were appointed to various state positions between 1560 and 1640 AD, hiding their identities. However, no accurate information and statistics are available in this regard. Information about some people who faced trial for keeping Islam secret is available in judicial records. One such person is Amir Sigala. He used to introduce himself as Gregorio Zapata. He was a captain in the royal military of Spain. He served in Potosi, Bolivia. After returning home, it was learned that he was originally a Muslim and his name was Amir Sigala.
Lasting Islamic Influence on Spanish Language and Culture
Despite the expulsion of Muslims from the country, the language and culture of Spain remain deeply influenced by Islamic culture. Although Castilian, which is considered the standard (modern and standard) branch of the Spanish language, is based on Latin, it is heavily influenced by Arabic. The contribution of Arabic to the modernization of the Spanish language is also outstanding. More than four thousand terms in modern Spanish have been directly borrowed from Arabic. Most of the words borrowed from Arabic are related to human experience; such as art, science, agriculture, mining, navigation, astronomy, philosophy and spiritual expression, etc.
Factors Behind Muslim Influence on Spain
There are several reasons for the spread and permanence of Muslim influence in Spanish society. First, when the Arabs conquered Spain, it was politically divided. Muslims brought political stability to Spain. As a result, public life returned to normal.
Second, the Muslim conquest of the world. At that time, as Muslim rule spread from the Mediterranean to the Pacific Ocean, from India to the borders of China, Muslim civilization, culture and education greatly prospered by absorbing various civilizations and cultures. The political influence of Muslims also had an impact on the psychology of people. In addition, after the fall of the Roman Empire and culture in Europe, Islam was the best alternative for the Spanish and Europeans. The Europeans’ fascination with Islam is evidenced by the fact that four-fifths of the Muslim population at the time of the fall of Spain were converted Muslims.
Otto the Great’s Impressions of Granada
German prince (later king) Otto the Great visited Granada in the 12th century. After his visit, he commented that Granada could only be compared to the magnificent Baghdad. He also saw the inhabitants of Granada wearing Arab clothing and using Arab language. Their language was called Algarabia, which was originally a mixture of Arabic and Romance languages. Their diet and lifestyle were also Arab.
