The Moors in Italy: The History of the Muslims Who Moved from North Africa to Italy during the Middle Ages

The term Moor is a historical rather than an ethnic name. It is an invention of European Christians for the Islamic inhabitants of Maghreb (North Africa), Andalusia (Spain), Sicily and Malta, and was sometimes use to designate all Muslims. It is derived from Mauri, the Latin name for the Berbers who lived in the Roman province of Mauretania.

The Berbers established several powerful and prosperous states on the south Mediterranean coast. They ruled Numidia - now part of Algeria - until conq...