A little history!

The year 711 marked the beginning of the new era in the iberian peninsula which would shape its future into a mold different from the rest of europe. This was the year, the Moors, under their leader Tariq ibn-Ziyad, defeated the visigoths and conquered most parts of the peninsula. The mountain regions of Asturia remained undeafeated and would later form the core of the Spanish Reconquesta.

The first half a century of Moorish rule was divided and full of internal squables. However, in 756, Abd-er-Rahman established himself in Cordoba as the emir of Al-Andalus, the arabic name of those parts. During his reign, he transformed Al-Andalus to the cultural light of Europe. In 785, Abd-er-Rahman I started the construction of the Mezquita in Cordoba and is one of the most magnificient buildings today.

Under the moors, the iberian peninsula flourished for centuries. The art and architecture of that period is famous. Many libraries were established which held millions of books and manuscripts, unparalleled in the rest of europe at that time. Muslims and non-Muslims often came from abroad to study in the famous libraries and universities of al-Andalus. The moors expanded and improved Roman irrigation systems to help develop a strong agricultural sector. They introduced many new crops including the orange, lemon, peach, apricot, fig and pomegranate as well as saffron, sugar cane, cotton, silk and rice which remain some of Spain's main products today. A big progress was made in the field of medicine as well. Abu al-Qasim, regarded as the father of modern surgery wrote the kitab al-Tasrif ("Book of Concessions"), a 30-volume medical encyclopedia.

There is a lot lot more ... saving for the next time!!!!