How words shape our thoughts
The term "Moor" is derived from the Latin word Maurus, originally used to describe Roman-era Berbers and others from what is now known as North Africa. Later, it was applied to Muslims living in Europe.
In 711 CE, a small army of mounted North African Muslims led by the Berber general Tariq ibn-Ziyad captured the Iberian Peninsula in what became known as the Umayyad conquest of Hispania.
Rapid success on the battlefield against the Visigoths rewarded the Moors with a vast swathe of territory, lands they called al-Andalus (modern-day Spain and Portugal). The southernmost Spanish province of Andalusia is named after these once Moorish-ruled areas.
By 720, Moorish domination across southern Iberia had been consolidated with the establishment of ruling seats in Seville, Murcia, and Granada (in modern-day Spain) and Mértola (in modern-day Portugal).
Despite their military superiority, the Moors were unable to defeat the army of Pelagius the Visigoth at Covadonga in the historic Kingdom of Asturias, in northwestern Spain. It was a fateful loss. Covadonga would later become the initial point of the Christian Reconquista ("reconquest") of Spain.
Another decisive battlefield defeat of the Moorish army took place in 732. Invading forces of the Umayyad Caliphate, led by Abdul Rahman Al-Ghafiqi, governor of al-Andalus, were beaten back at the Battle of Tours by Frankish and Aquitanian forces, led by Charles Martel. The losses at Covadonga and Tours marked the northeast extent of the Moorish expansion in Iberia.
On top of these decisive defeats, the Umayyads became embroiled in a civil war when the Berber Moors revolted against their Arab overlords. The in-fighting lasted until 743.
The Umayyad Caliphate, or dynasty, survived until 1031. When that ended in Damascus, Umayyad rule was limited to Iberia. During this time of relative peace and stability, the Moors were responsible for introducing numerous scientific, artistic, and cultural innovations to world society.
During Moorish rule, the cities of Seville, Córdoba, Granada, and Cádiz were distinguished for their unique architectural style. Recognizable features included the horseshoe arch, riad gardens (courtyard gardens with a symmetrical four-part division), square (cuboid) minarets, and elaborate geometric and arabesque motifs.
Constructed in 785, the Great Mosque of Córdoba remains an outstanding example of Moorish architecture. The mosque was converted to a cathedral in 1236 when Córdoba was captured by the Christian forces of Castile during the Reconquista.
The 13th-century Alhambra Palace in Granada is one of the most famous monuments of Islamic architecture and one of the best-preserved palaces of the historic Islamic world.
After the collapse in the 11th century of Umayyad rule, Iberia was controlled by Almoravid and Almohad dynasties. In 1150, the Almohad Caliphs began to develop Seville as their capital in al-Andalus.
A signature design element of Moorish architecture is the azulejo, a glazed ornamental tile typically showing unmistakable Arab influences such as interlocking curvilinear, geometric, or floral motifs. In the early 13th century, Seville was a major center of the Hispano-Moresque tile industry.
Ibn Rushd (1126–1198), whose name is often Latinized as Averroes, was the founder of the Averroism school of philosophy, and influential in the rise of secular thought in Western Europe.
Arab-Muslim astronomer, chemist, mathematician, and economist Maslama al-Majriti penned the influential Encyclopedia of the Brethren of Purity.
Often described as the "father of modern surgery," al-Zahrawi (Abulcasis) is celebrated as the author of the Kitab al-Tasrif, a 30-volume encyclopedia of medical practices that remained influential for centuries.
Andalusian astronomer and engineer al-Zarkali (Arzachel) developed the astrolabe, an astronomical instrument that was a handheld model of the universe. It was used for the study of astronomy and in determining latitude on land or calm seas.
Physician Ibn Zuhr (Avenzoar) discovered the existence of parasites, and pioneered experimental surgery.
In 1154, Moorish geographer Muhammad al-Idrisi drew the Tabula Rogeriana, the most accurate world map in pre-modern times.
Throughout their rule, the Moors extended and perfected the Roman irrigation system, which had fallen into disuse after the 4th century CE. The countryside around Valencia, known as Hadiqat al-Andalus, was renowned for its mild climate and fertile soil. It soon became known as the garden of Moorish Spain.
The Moors brought with them to al-Andalus and Sicily a delicious variety of fruit, spices, and nuts. This foodstuff would form the base ingredients of what we today call the Mediterranean diet.
The Moors' sphere of influence extended into Sicily, which was invaded in 827. By 902 almost the entire island was under Arab control.
The Romans were known to have introduced Mediterranean fruit to Europe during their long reign, but it was the systematic cultivation of things like oranges and lemons by the Moors that established al-Andalus as a major agricultural region.
The installation of irrigation systems allowed the harvesting of arid areas. This in turn provided the means by which to cultivate apricots, aubergine (eggplant), artichokes, pomegranates, figs, oranges, and lemons that the Moors had imported into al-Andalus.
Almonds, pine nuts, and walnuts, as well as herbs and spices including cumin, coriander, saffron, and ginger, were all introduced by the Moors.
The Moorish influence on Spanish cuisine is probably most evident in sweets and desserts, and the majority of the more traditional Andalusian desserts are delicious examples of this. Almonds, for example, revolutionized pastry making, and gave us marzipan.
By the 13th century, the Moors were under siege by Christian forces across most regions of Iberia, victims of the Reconquista that had its roots in the Battle of Covadonga.
In 1492, they had to surrender Granada to the combined might of Aragon and Castile, an event that marked the end of Moorish Iberia. Pictured is the last ruler of al-Andalus, Abu 'abd-Allah Muhammad, known as Boabdil, turning over the keys of Granada to the Spanish monarchs.
Sources: (National Geographic) (The New York Times) (The National)
See also: Were the Barbarians really barbaric?
The term "Moor" generally refers to the Muslim inhabitants of the Maghreb (Northwest Africa) and their reign of al-Andalus (modern-day Spain and Portugal) from the early 8th century to the late 13th century CE. During this time, the territory became a prosperous cultural and economic center where agriculture, education, and the arts and sciences flourished. Today, we still benefit from their legacy through some truly magnificent architecture, delicious food, and unique language. But who exactly were the Moors, and where did they originate?
Click through and journey back in time to find out.
Who exactly were the Moors?
The influence of the Muslim inhabitants of Iberia
LIFESTYLE History
The term "Moor" generally refers to the Muslim inhabitants of the Maghreb (Northwest Africa) and their reign of al-Andalus (modern-day Spain and Portugal) from the early 8th century to the late 13th century CE. During this time, the territory became a prosperous cultural and economic center where agriculture, education, and the arts and sciences flourished. Today, we still benefit from their legacy through some truly magnificent architecture, delicious food, and unique language. But who exactly were the Moors, and where did they originate?
Click through and journey back in time to find out.