I : XXXI - XXXIV Lusitania and Hispania: The Unlikely Rivals

There's an apparent geographical change in sight: all of a sudden the mountainous region of Sintra has been left behind and we now follow Harold, or Byron to the plain. 

Shepherd Boy

We see the serenity of Spanish prairie life and contemplate how easy it is to break that kind of peace. It's all so easy to get into conflicts, and it's all so easy to turn those peasants' paradise into hell.

Between Spain and Portugal, we don't see a lot of natural boundaries that are difficult to conquer. Tagus river touches gently upon both nations but never does anything too dramatic. (Speaking of Tagus, it took me incredibly long time to figure out that Byron meant Tagus by Tayo. He might have spelled it phonetically as Tajo (pronounced Tayo) was the Spanish name for Tagus.) Andalusia's Sierra Morena does lie between the two of them, but the mountains separates Spain from Moraco if anything, not Portugal! There's nothing terribly high, or deep, or vast, or ruthless that you think would have more chances pissing off either sides, stirring up some quarrels between "neighbours" whose backgrounds are so much alike.The Pyrenees on the other hand, is a MASSIVE boundary between Spain and France. In the 17th century the two of them fought for 24 years, yet ironically, they became allies in opposition of Anglo-Portugal in the 1800s.

Geographical Layouts of Iberian Peninsular

If there's one thing we can learn from what Childe Harold sees, it's that what it seems is never what it is. The peaceful appearance of what separates Portugal from Spain is merely an illusion, covering the hostile situation they're in.

Rio Guadiana, or Rio Odiana is one of the waterways between Portugal and Spain. It's also the fourth longest river on Iberian Peninsular. Where Guadiana flows is also close to Andalusia, a hot spot for the Moors and the Christians to shed blood. Paynim turban and Christian crest here, are used as parts to indicate the whole group of people.

Why do we get into fights? We now know that the natural boundaries play lesser part than religious beliefs.