The Reconquista was a significant period in Spanish history that lasted nearly 800 years, from the early 8th century to 1492. It involved a series of military campaigns by Christian kingdoms to reclaim territory from the Muslim rulers who had invaded and occupied much of the Iberian Peninsula. This struggle was marked by various battles, alliances, and cultural exchanges between the Christian and Muslim populations. The Reconquista culminated in 1492 when the Catholic Monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabella, captured the last Muslim stronghold of Granada. This victory not only unified Spain under Christian rule but also set the stage for the Age of Exploration, leading to the discovery of the Americas by Christopher Columbus later that same year.