Islamic Spain 711-1492 North African tribesmen, newly converted to Islam, enter Spain near Gibraltar as allies of one Visigothic faction. The Moors establish themselves in central and especially southern Spain, naming it Al Andalus .
Christian kingdoms push southward at uneven rates.
Castilla heads the reconquest. By 1212 the majority of Iberian Peninsula was in Christian hands. The Kingdom of Castilla advances farthest through the center of the peninsula, giving it control over the largest amount of territory, including Andalucia. See the map below. Military conquest and determination to impose Christianity become united in the popular mind and royal policy.