The American encounter with Islam began long before the "Middle East" existed as a geographical region, and before the United States existed as a nation. by Robert J. Allison When the Christian kingdoms of Castille and Aragon, the nucleus of what became Spain, united and conquered the Muslim kingdom of Granada in 1492, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella realized their goal of uniting Spain under Christian rule. They wanted to continue their holy war against Islam, chasing Muslims into North Africa. President Jefferson To wage this war, Ferdinand and Isabella needed money. Christopher Columbus's bold plan, to sail west and...