The Moorish Rule in Spain

From the 8th to the 15th century, the Moors, a term used by Europeans to describe Muslim people from North Africa and the Iberian Peninsula, dominated large parts of present-day Spain and Portugal. This era began with the Umayyad conquest of Hispania in 711 AD, which led to the establishment of the state of Al-Andalus. The period of Moorish rule in Spain was marked by significant cultural exchange and development, with the introduction of advanced agricultural techniques, distinctive architectural styles, and the flourishing of scholarship and science. However, religious and political conflicts between Muslim Moors and Christian kingdoms sparked the Reconquista, a centuries-long campaign to reclaim the territory. Moorish rule persisted until 1492, when the last Moorish stronghold, the Emirate of Granada, fell to Christian forces, marking the end of Muslim dominion in Spain. Today, the legacy of Moorish culture is still evident in Spain’s language, architecture, and cuisine.