Spain expelled thousands or Muslims and Jews in the late 1400s. The Moors had come in the early 800s and quickly conquered almost all of the Iberian Peninsula. They would finally be kicked out in 1492. (Yes, Columbus got to sail for Spain only because they got their country back and because he promised riches.) Despite fighting for almost 700 years, their were great times of peace where Christians, Muslims, and Jews all lived and worked together. However, upon the the end of La Reconquista (The Reconquest) Christians removed anyone unwilling to convert or follow the Catholic faith. Things could be quite violent as the Spanish Inquisition was in use to root out anyone that was not a Catholic.
