Today the term Moorish designates the Arabic dialect of people from Algeria, Western Sahara, Morocco, Niger, and Mali. However, there is more historical information regarding the Moors.
Common Term
The name Moors was used to refer to Muslims that inhabited the Iberian Peninsula after the Arab conquests. Moorish soldiers crossed into Spain, Portugal and southern France at the beginning of the 8th century and the name of Moors is still associated with the Moroccan immigrants in Spain. Today the Spanish speaking people persist in identifying the Islamic people as Moors.
Origin of the word Moor
The name Moor is believed to be a Greek word meaning black or very dark. The Webster's New World Dictionary places the Moors under Arab and Berber (people of North Africa west of the Nile Valley) descent separate from the racial distinction as black for Africans. Even though the name Moors became associated with Muslims it actually pre-dates Islam. The Berbers were from various nomadic groups that included North Africans and Saharan Africans. Most of today's inhabitants from Morocco and Mauritania and other countries are referred to as Moors.
Religious Tolerance
When the Moors lived in the Iberian Peninsula, there were Christian, Muslims and Jews living in the same area. Most Jews were expelled and Christians were considered second class. Many Muslims and Jews in Spain were either forced to leave or become Roman Catholics or be murdered for not changing to the Roman Catholic faith. Any Muslim that converted to Catholicism was called a Morisco. When the North African Moors took over, the rulers began a version of Islam that did not tolerate other religions.
Architecture of the Moors
The Moors built frequently and well. Water from the mountain flowed from pipes into gold, silver and brass basins. The City of Cordoba was lit by lamp posts throughout the many palaces. Mosques, public baths, houses, and shops were commonplace. The Moorish Revival architecture peaked in the mid nineteenth century by architects in Europe and America that centered on decorative ornament beyond classical and Gothic designs.
Famous Moors
Common Term
The name Moors was used to refer to Muslims that inhabited the Iberian Peninsula after the Arab conquests. Moorish soldiers crossed into Spain, Portugal and southern France at the beginning of the 8th century and the name of Moors is still associated with the Moroccan immigrants in Spain. Today the Spanish speaking people persist in identifying the Islamic people as Moors.
Origin of the word Moor
The name Moor is believed to be a Greek word meaning black or very dark. The Webster's New World Dictionary places the Moors under Arab and Berber (people of North Africa west of the Nile Valley) descent separate from the racial distinction as black for Africans. Even though the name Moors became associated with Muslims it actually pre-dates Islam. The Berbers were from various nomadic groups that included North Africans and Saharan Africans. Most of today's inhabitants from Morocco and Mauritania and other countries are referred to as Moors.
Religious Tolerance
When the Moors lived in the Iberian Peninsula, there were Christian, Muslims and Jews living in the same area. Most Jews were expelled and Christians were considered second class. Many Muslims and Jews in Spain were either forced to leave or become Roman Catholics or be murdered for not changing to the Roman Catholic faith. Any Muslim that converted to Catholicism was called a Morisco. When the North African Moors took over, the rulers began a version of Islam that did not tolerate other religions.
Architecture of the Moors
The Moors built frequently and well. Water from the mountain flowed from pipes into gold, silver and brass basins. The City of Cordoba was lit by lamp posts throughout the many palaces. Mosques, public baths, houses, and shops were commonplace. The Moorish Revival architecture peaked in the mid nineteenth century by architects in Europe and America that centered on decorative ornament beyond classical and Gothic designs.
Famous Moors
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