(slides 43, 44) Some of the art associated with the Reconquista shows there was important cultural borrowing between the Christian and Muslim elements in Andalusia. In slide 43, we see a ceiling from a convent, known as "Las Huelgas". This was a Cistercian convent which was the recipient of major patronage by Christian kings. Many generations of the Castilian dynasty received burial and prayers there, and it was a favored site for royal weddings and coronation ceremonies. The convent was a refuge for female members of royal or noble families who chose a life of religious contemplation. The ceiling reflects a clear Arab or Islamic influence in its geometric design and ornamentation. The banner seen in slide 44 was taken as war booty by Christian forces when they defeated the Almohad armies in a famous battle known as Las Navas de Tolosa in 1212 A. D. The battle represented a staggering defeat by the Muslim armies and is seen by many historians as a pivotal moment in the Christian reconquest. The banner was later given as a gift to the convent of Las Huelgas (seen in slide 43). Back to slides