What was the political state of Iberia before the end of Muslim rule?

Before the end of Muslim rule, Iberia was a patchwork of Christian kingdoms and Muslim territories, often at war with each other.

In the early 8th century, the Muslim Umayyad Caliphate conquered the Visigothic Kingdom in Iberia, marking the beginning of Muslim rule. The region, known as Al-Andalus, became a centre of culture and learning, with a complex political structure. However, the Umayyad Caliphate was overthrown in the mid-8th century, leading to the fragmentation of Al-Andalus into multiple smaller Muslim states, known as Taifas.

Meanwhile, in the northern part of Iberia, several Christian kingdoms emerged, including Asturias, León, Castile, Navarre, and Aragon. These kingdoms were often at war with the Taifas, but also with each other, as they sought to expand their territories. This period, known as the Reconquista, was marked by frequent shifts in alliances and territorial boundaries.

The Christian kingdoms gradually gained ground, capturing key cities such as Toledo and Lisbon. However, the balance of power shifted again in the late 11th century, when the Almoravids, a Muslim dynasty from North Africa, intervened in Iberia. The Almoravids and their successors, the Almohads, managed to reunite much of Al-Andalus and halt the Christian advance for a time.

However, the Christian kingdoms continued to press southward, and by the 13th century, they had recaptured most of Iberia. The last Muslim state, the Emirate of Granada, managed to hold out until 1492, when it was conquered by the combined forces of Castile and Aragon.

In summary, the political state of Iberia before the end of Muslim rule was characterised by a complex and shifting patchwork of Christian and Muslim territories. The region was marked by frequent warfare and changing alliances, as both Christian and Muslim rulers sought to expand their domains.