The Moors, Their Legacy, and Sub-saharan African Technology
The Moors: Genetic Origins and Historical Context
The Moors were North African Muslims, primarily from the Maghreb region, who played a significant role in the conquest and occupation of the Iberian Peninsula during the Middle Ages. The term “Moor” derives from the Latin “Maurus,” originally used to describe Berbers and ethnic groups from the Roman province of Mauretania, now part of North Africa. Over time, especially during the Renaissance, “Moor” was used to describe any dark-skinned person, leading to confusion with sub-saharan Africans.
Genetic studies reveal that the Moors had primarily Berber and Arab ancestry. The evidence leans toward modern Moroccans and the broader Maghreb population as the closest genetic relatives to the historical Moors, reflecting their North African origins and the continuity of genetic profiles over time.
Confusion with Sub-saharan Africans
The misconception that Moors were sub-saharan African, including South African blacks, likely arises from the term “Moor” refering to any dark-skinned person, especially during colonial times. This confusion may also stem from the Almoravids, a Berber dynasty with origins near northern Senegal and southern Morocco, suggesting some West African connections, though not South African.
Several notable black scholars, including Chancellor Williams, Ivan Van Sertima, Cheikh Anta Diop, and Molefi Kete Asante, have claimed the Moors were black Africans and significant contributors to civilization, with some suggesting they were the originators of modern technology.
For example, Williams in “The Destruction of Black Civilization” and Van Sertima in “African Presence in Early Europe” argued for their African roots and scientific contributions, while Diop and Asante emphasized their role in preserving knowledge. These claims are part of the Afrocentric movement, which seeks to highlight African contributions, sometimes overstating historical roles to counter Eurocentric narratives.
To discredited these claims, genetic evidence shows a massive genetic difference between Moors (Arab, Berber) and sub-saharan Africans. Sub-saharan Africa has the highest genetic diversity globally, with studies showing that the genetic variation within sub-saharan Africa is greater than that between sub-saharan Africans and Eurasians. This fact alone should dispell the notion of some monolithic race of “Black Africans”. Given the broad genetic variance from one part of African to another it could be said that in African there are a wide variety of “races”. And genetically this would be accurate.
In contrast, North Africans, including Moors, share genetic markers with Southern Europeans and West Asians, with pre-Neolithic Neanderthal DNA, distinct from sub-saharan Africans.
Claims of Moors creating much of today’s technology, such as electricity or advanced machinery, are historically inaccurate, as modern technology is a product of the late 20th and early 21st centuries, with roots in the Industrial Revolution and scientific advancements of the 19th and 20th centuries. While their mathematical and scientific contributions were foundational, they did not directly create today’s technology, which evolved through centuries of global innovation.
Technological Achievements of the Moors
The Moors were highly advanced in technology, contributing significantly to medieval Europe:
- Mathematics: They preserved and expanded Greek and Roman mathematical knowledge, introducing algebra, the concept of zero, and Arabic numerals, which are foundational to modern mathematics.
- Science and Astronomy: They built observatories and, advanced astronomical knowledge, which influenced later European science.
- Medicine: They established hospitals and practiced dissection, contributing to medical knowledge in Europe.
- Agriculture: They introduced new crops and irrigation systems, transforming European agriculture.
- Architecture and Metalwork: They excelled in building complex structures and crafting bronze and iron works, seen in their architectural decorations.
Their achievements included the creation of al-Andalus, a prosperous cultural and economic center where education and the arts flourished, lasting until their expulsion in 1492
The Rise and Fall Of A Great Empire.
The Moors conquered the Iberian Peninsula in 711 AD, led by Berber general Tariq ibn-Ziyad, establishing al-Andalus, which at its peak included most of modern Spain and Portugal. Their rule lasted nearly 800 years, marked by periods of infighting and eventual weakening, culminating in the Reconquista by Christian kingdoms. The fall of Grenada in 1492, led by Ferdinand II and Isabella I, marked the end of Moorish rule, with subsequent expulsions in 1609.
Sub-saharan Africa’s Technological History
Sub-saharan Africa has a long history, often characterized by primitive tribalism and hunter-gatherer cultures, but with notable exceptions:
- General Narrative: Many sub-saharan societies were organized in small, tribal units, with hunter-gatherer practices dominant, especially in southern and central Africa, such as the San and Hadza populations.
- Exceptions: Significant technological advancements include:
- Iron Smelting: The Nok culture in Nigeria, dating to around 1000 BCE, developed ironworking, with furnace remains indicating sophisticated metallurgy.
- Agriculture: Advanced farming techniques, such as rice cultivation in the Upper Guinea Coast, admired by Portuguese observers in the 15th–16th centuries, and oil palm agroforests providing fats and vitamins.
- Architecture: Monumental structures like Great Zimbabwe, with advanced stone masonry from the 11th–15th centuries, and the Benin Empire’s bronze casting.
- Trade Networks: The Mali Empire had sophisticated administrative systems and extensive gold trade routes, facilitated by advanced organizational technologies.
- Astronomical Knowledge: The Dogon people of West Africa have extensive knowledge of the Sirius star system, including Sirius B, which they claim was given by the Nommos, mythical beings from Sirius. This knowledge, dating back to 3200 BC, predates Western discovery and may have been influenced by Egyptian culture, given their proximity and Egypt’s advanced understanding of astronomy.
The Moors were North African, with Berber and Arab ancestry, not sub-saharan African, despite historical confusion. Their technological achievements were significant, influencing Europe, while sub-saharan Africa has a rich history of innovation, with genetic diversity greater than between any black and white person, reflecting its vast size and varied populations.