The history of the Moors is an interesting one. Muslim Arab armies swept North Africa in the 7th century in a militant expedition to convert tribes to Islam. In the Northwestern corner of the continent, they encountered several indigenous peoples, collectively called Berbers. In 711 ad, A Berber-Muslim army under their leader Tariq ibn-Ziyad, crossed the strait of Gibraltar from North Africa into the Iberian Peninsula for a military invasion. They

The bloodlines and ethnic traits of the peoples of the Peninsula changes as well. The Moors did not try to eliminate the numbers of native Spain when they invaded, as most other forces would have tried to do; they simple blended. During the entire reign of the Moors in Spain only 40,000 Berbers total invaded the Iberian Peninsula from North Africa. Spain was a melting pot of people- Visogothics, Hispano-Romans, Basques, Lusitanians, Arabs and Berbers. The Moors took on many concubines in their reigns and were said to prefer the blond-hair, blue-eyed maidens from Northern Europe. This practice changed both Berber Bloodlines and the genetic traits of the country itself. It was that in 860, one Caliph, Abd al-Rahman, was said to have reddish hair and hazel eyes, quite contrary to the ethnic look of a typical North African. He was ¾ Hispano-Basque and only ¼ Arab, yet he ruled the whole Caliphate of Cordoba (Fletcher 53). His mother had been the concubine to his father, the former Caliph of the province. The practice on inbreeding with natives also had an impact on the ethnicity of the country. Prior to Moorish invasion, the Visigoths and post - Roman genealogy formed a primarily Caucasian, light eyed, light skinned people. After the Moors ruled and receded back into North Africa, they left behind an olive to dark skinned, very dark complected, ethnic group that is evident even in Spanish culture today. The Spanish and the Portuguese, especially those inhabiting the south where Moors remained until the early 16th century, have a rather darker complexion than those living in France, or Germany.

During the establishment of the Moorish power, a remnant of Christian rule was preserved in the northern portion of the peninsula, in the countries of Asturias and Basque. The most important Christian State of the Northern Peninsula was the small kingdom of Astruias, which was founded about 718 by Oelayo, a Visigothic chieftain. The kingdom along with various other Christian factions begins a slow, but sure claiming of the southern part of the peninsula. Pelayo's son in law, Alfonso, conquered Galacia and Leon. His grandson, Alphonso III greatly extended these acquisitions during his reign. Leon was divided up into separate kingdoms, and each of these kings began his own conquest, eventually reaching Burgos. Because of the numerous forts on these newly acquired lands, this area near Burgos became known as Castilla, or Castille. There were two major Moorish Dynasties that ruled Spain form the 11th to 13th Centuries- The Almoravids, and the Almohads. The Almoravids ruled during the 11th and 12th Centuries. These were true Berber invaders. They were Muslim, but were slightly less interested in education, prestige, etc. than the original Caliphate. The Almohads overtook Almoravids in 1174 and reigned in the 12th and 13th centuries. The Spanish and the newly founded country of Portugal eventually defeated the Almohads in 1212. Cordoba, the ancient pride of Moorish conquest fell in 1236, and on by one the Moorish strongholds in the south surrendered. The Moors receded into Granada, which rose to a cultural, architectural, and educational splendor, which rivaled that of the former Caliphate of Cordoba. Still, given this persecution, the Moors were willing to interact and establish peace with their Christian neighbors. This willingness to survive and prosper led to an allegiance with the new Monarch in the early 15th century, Ferdinand III, who protected their interests and solitude. But, late in the 15th

Some common words found in the essay are:
Spanish Portuguese, Iberian Peninsula, North Africa, Prior Berber, North African, Caliphate Almohads, Christian Europe, Cordoba Mosque, Arabic Mudjares, Andalusians Berbers, north africa, iberian peninsula, caliphate cordoba, 15th century, social standards, animal close, christian reconquest, educated muslim, north african, king ferdinand,
Approximate Word count = 2387
Approximate Pages = 10 (250 words per page double spaced)