“The History of Western Civilization” is a required course at every college and university. Today, some high schools offer it as well. I remember learning about the Kings and Queens and famous battles that produced the Europe we know today. Not so much time was spent on America, as separate courses were offered in American History. Almost no time was spent on the Moors. That is regrettable, as the Moors had a long and rich history in early Europe.
History’s first mention of the Moors is in England, where the dark-skinned Moors arrived as early as 200 AD. They were sometimes referred to as “blackamoors” and had arrived mostly from North Africa. They were settlers, not conquerors. They were not Muslims as Islam did not begin until the Prophet Muhammad received his first revelation in 610 AD.
The Moors crossed from Africa to the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal) around 700 AD. They were not a single ethnic group. They were a mixture of Arabs, North African Berbers, and Blacks from Sub-Saharan Africa. After a number of victories in battle, they took control of the peninsula and ruled for almost 800 years. It was a time of peace and prosperity, often referred to as “convivencia”. Christians and Jews were required to pay an annual tax to their Muslim overlords and to refrain from attempting to serve in the government. In return, their activities were unrestricted. They practiced their faith and conducted their businesses as they pleased. As long as they paid their tax, they were exempt from military service.
In 1492, Ferdinand II of Aragon married Isabella I of Castile, and they began to unite Spain as a country. The last Muslim stronghold, the Emirate of Grenada, surrendered on 2 January, 1492 after a long siege. The Spanish used the new Chinese invention, the cannon, which could reduce fortress walls to rubble. In that same year, Ferdinand and Isabela took two actions that changed history. They dispatched the Italian adventurer, Cristoforo Colombo, and three ships to sail westward in the Atlantic to find a new trade route to the spice islands of the East and their fabulous riches. They also issued an eviction of all Jews and Muslims from Spain. Those who would not convert to the Catholic faith had to leave. Some left, others converted to preserve their prosperous businesses and property. Later, Ferdinand and Isabella suspected that some of the conversions were fraudulent, and the Jews and Muslims were secretly practicing their faith. They implemented the infamous “Spanish Inquisition”, which lasted until 1834. The inquisition was actually initiated by Pope Gregory IX in 1231, but what happened in Spain was very much different than what the Pope envisioned. Bands of inquisitors traveled throughout Spain to ferret out heretics. They were authorized to use torture and execution. The inquisitors were led by the “Grand Inquisitor”, Tomas de Torquemada, whose favorite method of execution was a public burning at the stake. It is estimated that the inquisitors burned more than 3000 heretics. Even an anonymous accusation of heresy or witchcraft could lead to execution, as it was often difficult to disprove an accusation.
The Moors were one of the most enlightened groups of their time. They pursued mathematics, astronomy, medical research, artistry, and technology. Their marvelous architecture exists today throughout Spain, Portugal, Africa, and Southern Europe. They deserve a better place in history.
By Paul Warrick: April 29, 2026 – Great Falls, Mt
Author: Staff
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