AQA · A-Level · History
Course version: 7042 · Version from Sept 2017
The political, economic, social and religious condition of the Iberian…
Full specification wording
1B Spain in the Age of Discovery, 1469–1598 (A-level only) – The forging of a new state, 1469–1516: The political, economic, social and religious condition of the Iberian Peninsula in 1469
In 1469, the Iberian Peninsula was highly fragmented politically, divided primarily into the distinct kingdoms of Castile, Aragon, Portugal, Navarre, and the Islamic Emirate of Granada.
Checked against the AQA 7042 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 1 of 6
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
In 1469, the Iberian Peninsula was highly fragmented politically, divided primarily into the distinct kingdoms of Castile, Aragon, Portugal, Navarre, and the Islamic Emirate of Granada. Castile was politically unstable under Henry IV, facing noble rebellions, while Aragon was a decentralized confederation with strong regional fueros (laws). Economically, Castile relied heavily on the Mesta (sheep farming) and wool exports, whereas Aragon's Mediterranean trade was in decline. Socially, society was rigidly hierarchical, dominated by powerful landowning nobles (grandees) who wielded immense local power. Religiously, the peninsula was uniquely pluralistic but increasingly tense, housing significant populations of Christians, Jews, and Mudéjars, setting the stage for future conflict.
What earns the marks
- Identify the political fragmentation of the peninsula into five distinct kingdoms with differing governance structures.
- Explain the economic disparities, contrasting Castilian pastoral dominance through the Mesta with Aragonese mercantile interests.
- Analyze the social hierarchy, specifically the disproportionate power and land ownership of the nobility (grandees) in Castile.
- Evaluate the religious landscape, noting the presence of convivencia alongside growing anti-Semitic and anti-Islamic tensions.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Assuming Spain was a single, unified country in 1469.
Put it right by emphasizing it was a collection of independent kingdoms.
Confusing the economic bases of Castile and Aragon.
Put it right by linking Castile to wool and the Mesta, and Aragon to Mediterranean maritime trade.
Believing the peninsula was entirely Catholic before 1469.
Put it right by acknowledging the significant Jewish and Muslim populations and the existence of Granada.
Exam tips
- Use the term 'Iberian Peninsula' rather than 'Spain' when discussing the period before the dynastic union took full effect.
- Highlight the contrast between the centralized potential of Castile and the fiercely independent, constitutional nature of the Aragonese territories.
- When discussing social conditions, explicitly mention the power of the nobility as a key challenge to royal authority in 1469.
Try the lesson
The start of the 1B Spain in the Age of Discovery, 1469–1598 (A-level only) – The forging of a new state, 1469–1516: The political, economic, social and religious condition of the Iberian Peninsula in 1469 lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Which of the following best describes the political structure of the Iberian Peninsula in 1469?
Listen
In 1469, the Iberian Peninsula was highly fragmented politically, divided primarily into the distinct kingdoms of Castile, Aragon, Portugal, Navarre, and the Islamic Emirate of Granada. Castile was politically unstable under Henry IV, facing noble rebellions, while Aragon was a decentralized confederation with strong regional fueros (laws). Economically, Castile relied heavily on the Mesta (sheep farming) and wool exports, whereas Aragon's Mediterranean trade was in decline. Socially, society was rigidly hierarchical, dominated by powerful landowning nobles (grandees) who wielded immense local power. Religiously, the peninsula was uniquely pluralistic but increasingly tense, housing significant populations of Christians, Jews, and Mudéjars, setting the stage for future conflict. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Identify the political fragmentation of the peninsula into five distinct kingdoms with differing governance structures. Explain the economic disparities, contrasting Castilian pastoral dominance through the Mesta with Aragonese mercantile interests. Analyze the social hierarchy, specifically the disproportionate power and land ownership of the nobility (grandees) in Castile. Evaluate the religious landscape, noting the presence of convivencia alongside growing anti-Semitic and anti-Islamic tensions. A common slip: Assuming Spain was a single, unified country in 1469. Instead, emphasizing it was a collection of independent kingdoms. Exam tip: Use the term 'Iberian Peninsula' rather than 'Spain' when discussing the period before the dynastic union took full effect.
See it
Key words
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Political fragmentation and regionalism
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Economic disparity and agrarian reliance
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Social hierarchy and noble power
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Religious pluralism and tension
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See every definition
- Political fragmentation and regionalism
- The peninsula was divided primarily into the distinct kingdoms of Castile, Aragon, Portugal, Navarre, and the Islamic Emirate of Granada, with differing governance structures.
- Economic disparity and agrarian reliance
- Castile relied heavily on the Mesta and wool exports, whereas Aragon's Mediterranean trade was in decline.
- Social hierarchy and noble power
- Society was rigidly hierarchical, dominated by powerful landowning nobles (grandees) who wielded immense local power.
- Religious pluralism and tension
- The peninsula was uniquely pluralistic but increasingly tense, housing significant populations of Christians, Jews, and Mudéjars.
Label the diagram
Some boxes have lost their names. Pick the right name for each number.
1Box 1
2Box 2
3Box 3
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