Moors

:For the terrain type, see: Heath (habitat). For the figure in heraldry, see Maure. For the archaic racial category see Moors (race).

Origins of the name

The name derives from the old Berber tribe of the Mauri and their kingdom, Mauretania, which became a Roman province after its last king Bocchus II willed it to Octavian in 33 BC. Mauretania lay in present day Morocco and Western Algeria and must not be confused with the country of Mauritania, more on the south. The name of Mauri was applied by the Romans to all Africa natives of North Africa still ruled by their own chiefs, until the 3rd century AD. The Muslim conquest of Iberia was undertaken by Arab "Moors"caliphates. The Arab Umayyad dynasty of Damascus was transplanted to Muslim Spain and was responsible for the incorporation of much of the culture and architecture from the old Umayyad capital. The soldiery of the first wave of invasions was derived predominantly from Berber peoples of North Africa.

Related Topics:
Berber - Mauri - Kingdom - Mauretania - Roman - Bocchus II - Octavian - 33 BC - Morocco - Algeria - Mauritania - North Africa - 3rd century AD - Muslim conquest of Iberia - Caliphates - Umayyad - Damascus

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