Clash of Power and Creed

This chapter focuses on the effective clashes of power that a European Christian kingdom imposed over a Muslim region. It demonstrates that the (re)foundation of cities as part of the Portuguese realm implied religious, social and military processes. Ceremonies, such as consecration masses or cavalry investitures, occurred together with the physical transformation of the city. '(Re)foundation' involved symbolical behaviour in line with the (re)design of the city's buildings and public space, resulting in a new cityscape. Diachronic encounters between two different concepts and cultures have stressed the instruments of appropriation the Portuguese used in Northwest Africa for the establishment of these enclaves. The chapter also focuses on three main aspects: an inspiration from classical mythology; a noble class that was still clearly medieval in its cavalry approach and warrior impetus; and a pragmatic behaviour that combined survival with rationality. Keywords:European Christian kingdom; Muslim region; Northwest Africa; Portuguese; Urban (Re)foundations

Appropriation · Archaeology · Art · Cityscape · Creed · Environmental ethics · Epistemology · Ethnology · Geography · Political science · Portuguese · Realm · Sociology · African history and culture studies · Global Maritime and Colonial Histories · History · Law · Philosophy