MOORS (ML. Norms, Lat. Mourns, Gk. Mapos, perhaps from pa() pos, egeaup6s, a muu ros, dark, or perhaps from their original native name). The name given to a mixed people constituting a very important element in the population of Northern Africa. Their appear ance indicates their origin, which is a mixture of the Mauri, Numidians, Phoenicians, Romans, and Arabs, who have successively held possession of the country. They arc a well-formed race, with fine Oriental features, and a mild and melan choly expression of countenance. The Moors employ the Arabic language, but with many corruptions and deviations from the original, and these appear to increase toward the west. The Moors first, appear in history as the allies of the Vandals in their attack upon Roman Africa. They were conquered and converted by the Arabs at the beginning of the eighth century after a severe struggle. Having once embraced Moham medanism, they joined the Arabs in the invasion of Spain. passing over in such numbers that in the early period of Spanish history the terms Moors, Saracens. and Arabs are used synony mously to designate the Mussulmans of the Pen insula. In the tenth century Moorish domina tion supplanted that of the Arabs in Northwest ern Africa. At the close of the eleventh century the Moorish sect of the Ahnoravides (q.v.), who had established their sway in Morocco. invaded Spain and swept away the Arab kingdoms which had arisen on the ruins of the Caliphate of Cor dova. After half a century their realm fell to pieces, and the Moorish sect of the Almohades (q.v.) became dominant in Morocco and Spain. In the meanwhile the Christian power in Spain had been steadily growing, and in 1212 the power of the Almohades was shattered in the battle of Navas de Tolosa. was left of Moorish dominion in the Peninsula was soon eonsolidated in the Kingdom of Granada, which rose to a height of splendor almost rivaling that of the former Caliphate of Cordova. The kings of Granada carried cm a vigorous warfare with the kings of Castile: lilt at length). weakened
by internal discord. they succumbed in 1492 to the arms of Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon. The Moors. or at least that portion of them who refused to accept Christianity, were then expelled from Spain. and began their piratical career in the Barbary States. Those who accepted the religion of their conquerors earn(' to be known as Moriseoes. They were sub jeeted to the most rigorous supervision. and any lapses from their adopted religion were ruth lessly punished by the inquisition. For more than of a century they lived as peaceful subjects of Spain and eonstituted by far the HMO industrious and intelligent element in the population. The perseeutions of Philip IL drove them 10 revolt (150R-701. but the in surrection was suppressed cruelty by Don dohn of Austria. and a large number were driven from the country. The policy of oppres sion was continued with increased severity under Philip IL's successor, and in 1609 the Moriscoes were finally expelled from the country, the loss of more than half a million of her most active citizens proving in the end a disastrous blow to Spain. The Moriscoes crossed over to Africa, but were received with hostility by their kin, from whom long absence had estranged them.
Consult: Abu ihn Mohammed al Siak:H•ri. The History of the Mohammedan Dynasties in Spain, trans. and annotated by P. de Gayangos (2 vols., London, 1840-43) ; AKehhaeh, Gcschichte Spo tlit and i'w•tUyals zur Zeit dcr Ilerrschaft der A/uuirru•Hiden und Almohaden (Frankfort. 1833 37 ) ; ('oppC•e, History of the Conquest of Spain by the .1.rab Moors (2 vols., Boston, 1881) : Dozy (ed.). Histoire dr ct de l'Espaync (Ley den, 1848-51), trans. from the Arabic of Ibn Adhari; id., Recherches sur Phistoire politique et litt,'raire de PEspagne pendant le moyen urge (2 vols., 2d ed., Leyden, 1860) : Lane-Poole. The Moors in Spain. (London, 1886) : Lea, The Monis roes of Spain (Philadelphia, 1901).