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The Moorish Occupation
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The Moorish Occupation
In ad 711 a faction of the ruling Visigoth tribe in Spain went to Islamic Africa to seek help with some domestic political
problems. They returned with an army of 7,000; after victory at Cádiz, the Moors encountered little resistance in taking over
all but a small strip of northern Spain over the next 30 years. Their tactics were a blend of intelligent strategy and diplomacy;
they never demanded religious subordination, as long as Christians paid taxes. Beginning in ad 744, however, resistance against
the invaders spread south from the small, unoccupied northern territory, fueled by the legend of St. James the Moorslayer.
El Cid succeeded in capturing Toledo from the Moors in 1085, and despite some setbacks a coalition of Christian armies was
finally victorious at the Battle of Navas de Tolosa in 1212, the last great battle between Moors and Christians. The Moorish
occupation left important legacies, however - they brought mathematics, papermaking, oranges, spices and rice to Spain, which
were then introduced to the rest of Europe.
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