The Arabian Historians, Who Recount These Wars, Speak Of _Roumi_ Or
Romans (Of The Byzantine Empire) And The Braber - Evidently
The
aboriginal tribes - who promptly submitted to the Arabs to rid themselves
of the yoke of the Romans; but, after
The retreat of their ancient
masters, they revolted and remained a long time in arms against their
new conquerors - a rule of action which all subjugated nations have been
wont to follow. Were we English now to attempt to expel the French from
Algeria, we, undoubtedly, should be joined by the Arabs; but who would,
most probably, soon also revolt against us, were we to attempt to
consolidate our dominion over them.
In the first years of the eighth century, and at the end of the first
century of the Hegira, the conquering Arabs passed over to Spain, and,
inasmuch as they came from Mauritania, the people of Spain gave them the
name of Moors (that of the aborigines of North Africa), although they
had, perhaps, nothing in common with them, if we except their Asiatic
origin. Another and most singular name was also given to these Arab
warriors in France and other parts of Europe - that of Saracens - whose
etymology is extremely obscure. [13] From this time the Spaniards have
always given the names of Moors (_los Moros_), not only to the Arabs of
Spain, but to all the Arabs; and, confounding farther these two
denominations, they have bestowed the name of _Moros_ upon the Arabs of
Morocco and those in the environs of Senegal.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 47 of 196
Words from 12333 to 12588
of 53114
