There was no advance of the reconquista for about 200 years (it was all bot over after the 1212 batte of Las Navas de Tolosa, the following 40 years or so were a slow mopping up leading to a vassal kingdom of Granada which lasted 200 years), not "100 years before 1450" and there really is no reason to believe that the Muslims or Jews had a particularly hard time until about 1500 - consider that the Castille was immersed in dynastic disputes for the better part of the 15th century. Religious purity only came on the agenda when the more important stuff had been dealt with. A vivid image of what should exist acts as a surrogate for reality. Pursuit of the image then prevents pursuit of the reality -- John K. Galbraith
I just finished "The Spanish Armada" by Martin and Parker and was going to reach for something 100 years earlier...maybe I'll go earlier than that. Never underestimate their intelligence, always underestimate their knowledge.
Frank Delaney ~ Ireland
