Andalusia

When the Visigothic kingdom was conquered by Tariq ibn-Ziyad 711 most of Spain became a part of the Arabic Caliphate. An almost 800 year long period with Muslim states in Spain began and the Muslim land became known as "al Andalus" (Andalusia). One member of the deposed Umayyad dynasty conquered Andalusia from the Abbasid caliphs and created the emirate of Córdoba 756 (caliphate from 929). This state became an important cultural and economic centre in the Moslem world and also controlled a large part of North Africa. But in the beginning of the eleventh century it was weakened by civil wars and it collapsed 1031 and was replaced by several petty states, so called taifas. The threat from the Christian kings in the north made them seek protection from the Almoravids who controlled Morocco. The Almoravids united Andalusia 1090 but was 1147 them selves replaced by the Almohads who also came from North Africa. The battle of Navas de Tolosa led however to a crushing defeat for the Almohads against a Christian coalition. Local Arab rulers took over control over Andalusia while the Almohads fled to North Africa. But these petty states were conquered one by one the following decades and only the kingdom of Granada managed to evade conquest by the Christians by allying themselves with Castile and accept their supremacy 1246. Granada would continue to exist as a state for 250 years. But it was conquered by Spain 1492 after a long war started by its king's refusal to the pay tribute.

Emirate of Córdoba

Granada is conquered by Spain 1492