Moors is a term that commonly refers to Muslims who speak Arabic and live in northwestern Africa. The term also refers to Muslims of Spanish, Jewish, or Turkish descent who live in northern Africa. Muslims of Arab descent who live in Sri Lanka are also called Moors. Moro, another form of the word, refers to Muslims who live in the southern Philippines.
In ancient history, the Romans called the people of northwestern Africa Mauri and the region they lived in, now northern Morocco and western Algeria, Mauretania. These people belonged to a larger group of African people called Berbers. Many of the Berbers became Muslims, and they adopted Arabic in addition to their own Berber language. They became known as Moors.
The Moors joined the Arabs in conquering Spain during the 700’s. Much of what is regarded as Moorish civilization of the Middle Ages was largely Arabic. The Moors lost much of their land in Spain by the late 1200’s. In 1492, Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain conquered Granada, the last Moorish kingdom in Spain. In 1500, they ordered the people of Granada to either become Christians or leave the region. Those who stayed were called Moriscos.
