The Moors were Muslim inhabitants of the Maghreb, the Iberian Peninsula, Sicily, and Malta during the Middle Ages, from the 8th to the 15th century. The Moors initially were the Berber and Arab Muslims who spread across North Africa and the Iberian Peninsula during the early days of Islam, but later the term was also applied to Africans, Arab Muslims, and Muslim Iberians.
The name “Moor” comes from the Roman designation “Mauri”, which was the name of the Berber tribes living in Roman Mauretania, corresponding to modern Algeria and Morocco. After the Muslim conquests of the 7th and 8th centuries, the term came to be associated broadly with Muslims of North African and West African origin.
In 711 AD, the Moors invaded the Iberian Peninsula (modern-day Spain and Portugal), establishing Muslim rule over the region in a period known as Al-Andalus. The influence of the Moors is still seen today in the architecture, arts, and culture of Spain, notably in structures like the Alhambra in Granada and the Great Mosque of Córdoba. The Moors’ rule in Spain lasted until 1492 when the Christian Reconquista culminated in the fall of Granada.
The Moors were known for their advancements in mathematics, astronomy, art, and agriculture. Their impact on European civilization, especially in terms of science, philosophy, and culture, is considered significant.