Mozarab

Mozarab refers to the Iberian Christians who lived under Muslim rule in Al-Andalus between the Arab conquest in 711 and the completion of the Reconquista in 1492. The term "Mozarab" derives from the Arabic musta'rib, meaning "one who imitates Arabs" or "Arabized." While they retained their Christian faith and many Latin customs, Mozarabs often adopted Arabic language and cultural practices due to their long coexistence with the Muslim majority.

Mozarabs maintained their own churches and religious communities, organized under bishops. They generally followed the Hispano-Visigothic rite, also known as the Mozarabic rite, though its practice gradually declined and was eventually replaced by the Roman rite in most areas. Their legal status varied over time and by region, but they were typically considered dhimmis, protected non-Muslim subjects who paid a special tax (jizya) in exchange for security and the right to practice their religion.

Despite the challenges and pressures of living in a Muslim society, Mozarabs contributed significantly to the cultural and intellectual life of Al-Andalus. They were instrumental in preserving and transmitting classical knowledge, including Greek philosophy and science, to the Muslim world and later to Christian Europe. The Mozarabic script, a distinctive form of handwriting, developed during this period. As Christian kingdoms in the north gradually reconquered territories, many Mozarabs migrated north, while others assimilated into the increasingly Christianized populations of Al-Andalus.