"The name Sephardi means "Spanish" or "Hispanic", derived from Sepharad (Hebrew: סְפָרַד, Modern: Sfarád, Tiberian: Səp̄āráḏ), a Biblical location.[11] The location of the biblical Sepharad points to the Iberian peninsula, then the westernmost outpost of Phoenician maritime trade.[12] Jewish presence in Iberia is believed to have started during the reign of King Solomon, whose excise imposed taxes on Iberian exiles. Although the first date of arrival of Jews in Iberia is the subject of ongoing archaeological research, there is evidence of established Jewish communities as early as the 1st century CE.
"The Jewish communities of the Iberian Peninsula prospered for centuries under the Muslim reign of Al-Andalus following the Umayyad conquest of Hispania, but their fortunes began to decline with the Christian Reconquista campaign to retake Spain.
"By the late 15th century, Sephardic Jews had been largely expelled from Spain and scattered across North Africa, Western Asia, Southern and Southeastern Europe, either settling near existing Jewish communities or as the first in new frontiers, such as along the Silk Road."
The Reconquista of 1492 saw both communities driven out of Spain but they both left a long lasting legacy. When I first visited Toledo many years ago I was surprised to see direction signs in both Hebrew and Spanish; I've never found out the reason for that curious bi-lingual signage. The strongest evidence of the Sephardic influnce lies in their music and so herewith a small selection of that music!
A la una yo nací. Música Sefardí. Emilio Villalba & Sephardica
ANA ALCAIDE: PASACALLES SEFARDÍ- Sinagoga del Tránsito de Toledo
Hija Mía mi querida. Música Sefardí. Emilio Villalba & Sephardica
Ana Alcaide - Khun Caravan (VideoClip)
Morena me llaman. Música Sefardí. Emilio Villalba & Sephardica
Ana Alcaide: LUNA SEFARDITA en Samarkanda
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