For definitions of Sephardim, see https://drsethward.wordpress.com/2012/10/18/sephardim-and-crypto-judaism-definition-of-te/ (originally posted at http://www.du.edu/~sward/sephardim.html, now available on archive.org only).
Overview of Spanish History
Before Islam
Obadiah 20: reference to “exiles from Jerusalem in Sepharad—a reference to Jews in Spain?
300’s – Archaeological and literary references including Council of Elvira
400’s 409-Barbarian invasions begin, ultimately Visigoths conquer all of Spain
587 Reccared becomes Roman Catholic
711 Islamic Conquest
Early Islamic Period
For the Islamic Period:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Muslim_Occupation_of_Spain
Note that “Muslim Occupation” is a rather political approach to this topic.
711 Tariq conquers Spain
755 Umayyads Abd al-Rahman I
929 Abd al-Rahman III proclaims himself Caliph in Cordoba builds new city, al-madina al-Zahira (Madinat al-Zahra)
http://www.virtourist.com/europe/cordoba/index.html Tourist site
http://www.infocordoba.com/cordoba_history.htm history site for Cordoba
Al-Hakam 891-976—after his death the disintegration of the “Caliphate” speeds up (final period was a time of anarchy for 23 years from the end of the rule of Ibn Abi Amir in 1008 who ruled in the name of Hisham, grandson of Abd al-Rahman III. )
1013 Caliphate ends with the fall of Cordoba; period of “Party Kings” (Reyes de las Taifas)
1085 Reconquista reaches Toledo; Almoravides conquer Islamic Spain
1140s Almohades conquer Islamic Spain
Reconquista
The first half of the 13th century saw the Muslims pushed into a small portion of Southern Spain. Nevertheless, the Nasrid kingdom achieved a high level of culture in Granada.
1212 Navas de las Tolosa http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Las_Navas_de_Tolosa
1232 Muhammad b. Nasr rules in Granada
1238 Jaime (James) I of Aragon conquers Valencia
1248 Ferdinand III of Castille conquers Seville
Alhambra
Ferdinand and Isabella, Most Catholic Monarchs
1469 Marriage of royal cousins, Ferdinand of Aragon (1452-1516) and Isabella of Castile (1451-1504)
1478 Papal Bull authorizes royal Inquisition in Castille
1481 Tómas de Torquemada appointed
The marriage in 1469 of royal cousins, Ferdinand of Aragon (1452-1516) and Isabella of Castile (1451-1504),
1486-1492: 25 auto-da-fes were held in Toledo alone, more than 13,000 Conversos tried from 1480-1492.
(464 auto-da-fes targeting Jews between 1481 and 1826) (Wikipedia)
1492 End of Kingdom of Granada, Boabdil leaves Granada—end of Muslim rule in Spain
1492 Edict of Expulsion: Jews leave, move to Portugal or convert
1497 forced conversion of Jews of Portugal