Portugal's Islamic/Moorish Past

In this documentary, we uncover the influence that 500 years of Muslim occupation had on Portugal and Portuguese culture. We visit some important sights and hear from Portuguese people regarding their views on this significant part of their history. Despite being overlooked at times, the Islamic occupation, known as its Moorish past, has had a huge impact on Portugal.

While in Spain, the seven centuries of Muslim rule is very well-known, in Portugal it typically goes unnoticed. Despite being overlooked at times, the Islamic occupation, known as its Moorish past, has had a huge impact on Portugal.

The Muslims invaded present-day Portugal in the year 711 and established their capital in what is modern day "Silves". A significant part of this documentary takes us to Silves, which is still one of the best places in Portugal to see the influence of the Muslim period. Silves was the main access route to the inland areas of the Algarve, and the Silves castle, which was built by the Almoravid Arabs in the 11th century, is the best preserved and most significant castle in the region. One of Portugal's main tourist attractions are its the beautiful beaches in the Algarve region. The name Algarve itself is derived from the Arabic word "al-Gharb", meaning the West. Portugal was the most Western part of the Muslim Empire and it was officially referred to as al-Gharb al-Andalus, meaning West of Al-Andalus. Nowadays Al-Andalus is often referred to as Muslim Spain, or Islamic Iberia.

It is not just the physical monuments which make Portugal’s Muslim past evident, but you can also find it in the country’s language and culture, even though the entire Reconquest centred around getting rid of Islamic influence altogether. Some Arabic words have permanently entered the Portuguese language, words for sugar, rice, olive oil, lettuce, village, the West and many others. Even Portugal’s most popular holiday spot, Albufeira, gets its name from Arabic, having then been called (Albuhayra) which means the lake in Arabic. The journey also takes us to Sintra, among other places, where the massive Moorish Castle stands. It was built by Muslims between the 9th and 10th centuries, the castle was vital in order to protect its population.

The southernmost region of Portugal, was finally conquered by Christians and taken away from the Muslims in 1249, and in 1255 the capital shifted to Lisbon. Neighbouring Spain would not complete its Reconquista until 1492.

[sanchoodell]

Many are familiar with "Moorish Spain" and its Islamic influence on present day Spain (particularly the south, Andalucia) Architecture (Alhambra Palace etc), food, language and even traditional music but neighbouring Portugal which also shares the Iberian peninsula was under the same Islamic empire and less or hardly any of this influence on Portugal is highlighted so this is a worthy video.

[emiliayonekokumata]

Thank you Bahador. I'm Brazilian and always more interested about Portugal which gave us part of identity to this country where I live, especially the language with many words from Arabic. Your video showed very interesting regions with Moorish history.

[newleigh]

I visited Morocco 🇲🇦 about a month before I visited Portugal 🇵🇹 and I’m so glad I did, because it cemented the connections of Moorish/Arabic influences, within language, Fado, architecture, etc. in Portugal.

[catarinaoliveira]

I am Portuguese and I am very proud of our Moor heritage. Nothing to be ashamed of. I understand that our old regime (Estado Novo) made a big effort to get rid of the idea that we were (positively) influenced by the Arabs, but it's been almost 50 years since we changed to democracy, so I don't understand how come the people who make school books didn't think about changing it to tell the truth and give it its due importance. They worry about so much useless crap to add to the books, but can't think about this 😕 Arabs were as much invaders as were the Romans or the Visigods.

[gracapereira]

Portugal was Islam for almost 600 yrs during the Arab rule.
Then became Christian again after the Moors were chased back to their country Morroco.
They however introduced agriculture especially down in south region .👌🏻
So not all was bad just tough times. But its history and yes we do have many influences of diff cultures.👌🏻

[desanipt]

What really bothers me about people not always feeling confortable about the mourish having invaded (and even take the reconquista with proud) is that we do not do the same thing with the Romans for example.
People are very proud of having been influenced by the Romans, when they completely invaded and destroyed the previous Iberian and Ibero-Celtic cultures, languages, religions leaving very little to no trace of it at all.

[gareththomas]

Why do you call it an occupation? It was a civilisation spanning hundreds of years!

[Sdc..]

Moors = North African Amazigh Morccans not Arabs

As a Moorish i love Portugal 🇲🇦❤️🇵🇹

[lallahoumlallahoum]

I love Moorish/Moroccan architecture ❤

[berbermoorish]

We love Portugal, ♥️ much Love from a Moroccan Berber / Amazigh with Iberian Heritage aswell ♥️ 🇲🇦🇲🇦

[alwssofy]

That palace takes up much of the architecture of Damascus, Egypt, Mecca and Morocco. Those wooden facades are as if they were in the Hijaz in western of Arabia, and those arches of Damascene and the mosaics on the wall are from Morocco. Even among the Arabs, all these things do not gather in one palace. Really beautiful

[kirkydaturkey]

You did an awesome job filming this and editing. Very helpful for my trip to Algarve!

[PlanetImo]

That was very interesting, thanks. We were in the Lisbon Story museum today, and this video was great for expanding on what we got the gist of earlier today. x

[feliped]

The Women in minute 9:00 has a typical liberal progressive perspective which is rootless and disconnected...

[ARUPA]

Well made documentary. I just came back from Portugal. I wish I had seen this before. We would have visited some of these places.

[marijavitorovic]

What a video! I really, really love it!
The part with Sintra, the view from the castle and the music in the background gave me lots of pleasant chills! I am going to Portugal in September, I cannot wait to experience Sintra by myself. I am overwhelmed with these pictures and historical facts, I cannot wait to learn and see more! Thank you for making this video ^^

[agnostimous]

Moroccan here and I love Portugal, most authentic people I got to encounter...

[acanpc]

Thanks for making this documentary man! Interesting part of our past as Portuguese people. My DNA test shows my patrilineal line is Moorish/Berber (halpogroup E-M81).

It’s part of Portugal’s process of self identification as a Catholic Christian European nation that portrayed the moorish period as an invasion. But of course we know that in southern Portugal, by the 1200s, it was an Arab and Muslim region for around 500 years. The biggest wave of conversion from Christianity to Islam (so I read) was in the 1000s.

I wonder about the assimilation of Muslim’s and Mozarabs (Christians under Islamic rule) after the “re”conquista

[issaal-andaloussi]

Al Andalous ! الحمد لله .
I'm muslim, I'm born in France and I'm portuguese by my parents .

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته .

[emirayub]

Wow! Amazing video bro 🥲 got me tearing up about my country’s past. I’m half Andalusian & half Moroccan. Hopefully one day we can bring back the legacy & influence 🇲🇦❤️🇵🇹