Google Ottoman Empire.
The answer to one of your question its easy.
War.
Historians estimate that around 1 to 3% of the entire Iberian Peninsula was comprised of Jews and Berber's.
But you have to take into account that we are talking about two different Nations.
Spain was at the time the centre of the Islamic World.http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q...
Portugal gain the South (Of Portugal) back 300 Years earlier then Spain.
The Region from the Centre to North (Of Portugal)was reconquered almost 500 Years(1139) earlier then Spain.
So you should inquire about the two Nations in separate.
Two Nations,two different History's
Portugal and Spain were never ruled by Muslim Arabs.
However, that region was ruled by Muslim Berbers /
Moors, before became Spain or Portugal.
They also ruled part of today's France .
Google Charles Martel / Charles the Hammer
About percentages, it is impossible to tell.
They didn't. There were many parts of Spain that were under rule of the Moors for 800 years! Córdoba was the largest Caliphate besides Damascus for a couple of hundred years.
How did the Christians regain their independence? They always had it...they just didn't always CONTROL all areas.
Have you ever heard of the "Reconquest"? Or the "Inquisition"? Just two pieces to the Christians taking back the peninsula.
How about Isabel and Fernando (AKA the Catholic Monarchs)? The Expulsion of the Jews and Moors? The reconquest of Granada? Any of that ringing a bell for you?
The French stopped the Muslim expansion. In fact they reached half way up France until they were beaten by Charles Martell at Tours.
Spain was more or less totally under Islamic rule in the 700s. Probably over half the people in Al Andaluz followed Islam.
It was not until the 15th century that they were finally defeated in Spain.
p.s. OK, what is untrue about the above?
they fought back, knowing Santiago de Compostela should not be ruled by saracens...its an imaginable thought
ottoman is not arab
Muslim Arabs ruled these countries for more than 300 years, and yet they were somehow eventually able to regain their independence? How did they do it? And why did it take them so long?
Also, what percentage of Spanish and Portuguese were Muslim during those years, and what percent remained Christian?
