Moors

Home > ... > History > Asia and Africa > North African History > ...

Moors

The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition | 2008 | The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. Copyright 2008 Columbia University Press. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

Moors nomadic people of the northern shores of Africa, originally the inhabitants of Mauretania. They were chiefly of Berber and Arab stock. In the 8th cent. the Moors were converted to Islam and became fanatic Muslims. They spread SW into Africa (see Mauritania ) and NW into Spain. Under Tarik ibn Ziyad they crossed to Gibraltar in 711 and easily overran the crumbling Visigothic kingdom of Roderick . They spread beyond the Pyrenees into France, where they were turned back at Tours by Charles Martel (732). In 756, Abd ar-Rahman I established the Umayyad dynasty at Córdoba. This emirate became under Abd ar-Rahman III the caliphate of Córdoba. The court there grew in wealth, splendor, and culture. The regent al- Mansur in the late 10th cent. waged bitter warfare with the Christians of N Spain, where, from the beginning, the Moorish conquest had met with its only opposition. The cities of the south, Toledo, Córdoba, and Seville, speedily became centers of the new culture and were famed for their universities and architectural treasures (see Moorish art and architecture ). With the exception of brief periods, there was, however, no strong central government; the power was split up among dissenting local leaders and factions. The caliphate fell in 1031, and the Almoravids in 1086 took over Moorish Spain, which was throughout the whole period closely connected in rule with Morocco. Almoravid control slowly declined and by 1174 was supplanted by the Almohads . These successive waves of invasion had brought into Spain thousands of skilled Moorish artisans and industrious farmers who contributed largely to the intermittent prosperity of the country. They were killed or expelled in large numbers (to the great loss of Spain) in the Christian reconquest, which began with the recovery of Toledo (1085) by Alfonso VI , king of León and Castile. The great Christian victory (1212) of Navas de Tolosa prepared the way for the downfall of the Muslims. Córdoba fell to Ferdinand III of Castile in 1236. The wars went on, and one by one the Moorish strongholds fell, until only Granada remained in their hands. Málaga was taken (1487) after a long siege by the forces of Ferdinand and Isabella, and in 1492 Granada was recovered. Many of the Moors remained in Spain; those who remained faithful to Islam were called Mudejares, while those who accepted Christianity were called Moriscos . They were allowed to stay in Spain but were kept under close surveillance. They were persecuted by Philip II, revolted in 1568, and in the Inquisition were virtually exterminated. In 1609 the remaining Moriscos were expelled. Thus the glory of the Moorish civilization in Spain was gradually extinguished. Its contributions to Western Europe and especially to Spain were almost incalculable—in art and architecture, medicine and science, and learning (especially ancient Greek learning).

Bibliography: See S. Lane-Poole, The Moors in Spain (1886, repr. 1967).

Hide all research tools
Print this article Print all entries for this topic Cite this article Link to this article
Link to this article

CloseClose

Create a link to this page

Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:

<a href="http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/.aspx#1E1-Moors" title="Facts and information about Moors">Moors</a>

Add this article to Del.icio.usBookmark this article on DiigoShare this article on FacebookSubmit this article to RedditGive this article a thumbs-up on StumbleUpon
Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"Moors." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 26 Nov. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Moors." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (November 26, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Moors.html

"Moors." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Retrieved November 26, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Moors.html

Learn more about citation styles

Moors

World Encyclopedia | 2005 | © World Encyclopedia 2005, originally published by Oxford University Press 2005. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

Moors Predominantly Berber people of nw Africa. In Europe, the name applies particularly to the North African Muslims who invaded Spain in 711, and established a distinctive civilization that lasted nearly 800 years. It was at its height under the Cordoba caliphs in the 10th and 11th centuries. The Christian rulers of n Spain gradually reconquered the country until, after the Almohad Empire broke up in the 13th century, Granada alone survived. Granada itself fell in 1492. See also Alhambra

Hide all research tools
Print this article Print all entries for this topic Cite this article Link to this article
Link to this article

CloseClose

Create a link to this page

Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:

<a href="http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/.aspx#1O142-Moors" title="Facts and information about Moors">Moors</a>

Add this article to Del.icio.usBookmark this article on DiigoShare this article on FacebookSubmit this article to RedditGive this article a thumbs-up on StumbleUpon
Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"Moors." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 26 Nov. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Moors." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (November 26, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-Moors.html

"Moors." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved November 26, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-Moors.html

Learn more about citation styles

Moor

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English | 2009 | © The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English 2009, originally published by Oxford University Press 2009. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

Moor / moŏr/ • n. a member of a northwestern African Muslim people of mixed Berber and Arab descent. In the 8th century they conquered the Iberian peninsula, but were finally driven out of their last stronghold in Granada at the end of the 15th century. DERIVATIVES: Moor·ish adj.

Hide all research tools
Print this article Print all entries for this topic Cite this article Link to this article
Link to this article

CloseClose

Create a link to this page

Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:

<a href="http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/.aspx#1O999-moor" title="Facts and information about Moors">Moors</a>

Add this article to Del.icio.usBookmark this article on DiigoShare this article on FacebookSubmit this article to RedditGive this article a thumbs-up on StumbleUpon
Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"Moor." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 26 Nov. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Moor." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (November 26, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-moor.html

"Moor." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved November 26, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-moor.html

Learn more about citation styles

Free newspaper and magazine articles

Free Article Moors & Cabot's Financial Institutions Group Hires Consumer and Specialty Finance Analyst from Prudential Securities, Salesman from Stephens Inc. and Sales trader from Banc of America.
Business Wire; 4/9/2003
Free Article Robinson brace guides Moor to first success of season.
Newspaper article from: Dewsbury Reporter (Dewsbury, England); 1/20/2006
Free Article Drig end gutsy Moor cup ambitions.
Newspaper article from: Dewsbury Reporter (Dewsbury, England); 11/9/2007

Facts and information from other sites

Related articles from newspapers, magazines, and more

Moor(e) hunted down father's killer: 4 years looking for murderer to be part of Moore family history book.
Newspaper article from: Decatur Daily (Decatur, AL); 6/1/2007; 700+ words ; ...wife, Pemelia Melissa Stubbs Moor. John was born Nov. 1, 1844...County to the Rev. Hezekiah Balch Moor Jr. and Elizabeth McLaughlin Moor. He joined the Confederate Army...his family home in Leeds as the Moors struggled to survive Reconstruction...
Moor gets D-I shot; Former Cuba City to Illinois State
Newspaper article from: Telegraph - Herald (Dubuque); 5/6/2006; ; 683 words ; ...Three NCAA Division II schools offered Jube Moor a scholarship to play basketball for them next...Division I Illinois State, which planned to offer Moor only a walk- on invitation. By the time Moor left the Redbirds' campus in Normal, Ill...
Meadow Moor kids can stay
Newspaper article from: Deseret News (Salt Lake City); 4/19/2006; ; 700+ words ; Meadow Moor Elementary students now have the option of staying put...when board members voted to relocate Hill View to Meadow Moor's facility next year. The board determined Meadow Moor's facility is safer with better accessibility and lower...
Moors farms 'may disappear'
Newspaper article from: Yorkshire Post; 5/11/2006; 700+ words ; ...by the North York Moors National Park Authority...hill flocks on the moor, compared with a...keep sheep on the moors. The study aimed...profitable - or not - the moor flocks were and concluded...requirement to stock the moors in order to receive...concludes that once moor flocks have ...
Moors & Cabot's Financial Institutions Group Hires Consumer and Specialty Finance Analyst from Prudential Securities, Salesman from Stephens Inc. and Sales trader from Banc of America.
Business Wire; 4/9/2003; 700+ words ; ...BUSINESS WIRE)--April 9, 2003 Moors & Cabot's Financial Institutions...a sales trader from Banc of America. Moors & Cabot's Financial Institutions...industry. Since its inception last May, the Moors & Cabot Financial Institutions Group...
Robinson brace guides Moor to first success of season.
Newspaper article from: Dewsbury Reporter (Dewsbury, England); 1/20/2006; 700+ words ; Dewsbury Moor 15 Hunslet Old Boys 10 By Andrew Hunt DEWSBURY Moor gained their first win of the season as they came from...Boys in the Yorkshire League Fred Marshall Senior Cup. Moor produced a slick first half display and fully deserved...
ROD & GUN: Why moors are silent.(Features)
Newspaper article from: The News Letter (Belfast, Northern Ireland); 8/15/1998; ; 700+ words ; ...talked to a neighbouring moor owner who had an interesting...numbers on the best managed moors between April and August...best English and Scottish moors. The reason is obvious...adult grouse on an Ulster moor of upwards of 6,000...disastrous. On the better moors where densities of 3...
Drig end gutsy Moor cup ambitions.
Newspaper article from: Dewsbury Reporter (Dewsbury, England); 11/9/2007; 700+ words ; Dewsbury Moor 8 Drighlington 18 By Richard Pickering DEWSBURY Moor produced a fine display full of guts and determination...Cup to Pennine League champions Drighlington. Gallant Moor proved stubborn opponents in last Saturday's quarter...
Fight to save moor park.
Newspaper article from: Yorkshire Evening Post (Leeds, England); 4/5/2006; 700+ words ; ...representing residents around Woodhouse Moor were today lobbying Leeds City Council...sterling]170,000 car park on Woodhouse Moor, using an area of land they say is already...groups say the plan will destroy part of the moor and attract more cars to the area. The...
Eatherley's late goal sees Moor triumph in cup thriller.
Newspaper article from: Dewsbury Reporter (Dewsbury, England); 10/5/2007; 700+ words ; Ossett Trinity 20 Dewsbury Moor 22 By Andrew Hunt DEWSBURY Moor sealed a dramatic Yorkshire Cup victory as James Eatherley...immediately blew the final whistle to the delight of the jubilant Moor players. It was a fitting end to a superb game which saw...
Click to see an enlarged picture
Moors. Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain)

For students and teachers!

Encyclopedia.com provides students and teachers facts, information, and biographies from verified, citable sources, including:

Encyclopedia.com provides students and teachers facts, information, and biographies from verified, citable sources, including:

Current Moors News:

Your GPS Is Probably Evil

(7/11/2009 1:34:03 PM)

London's Hot Ticket Gets Mixed Reviews

(12/6/2007 2:58:03 AM)