MOZARAB Meaning and
Definition
-
Mozarab is a term used to describe the Christian population who lived under Muslim rule in the Iberian Peninsula during the medieval period. The word "Mozarab" is derived from the Arabic word "Musta'rib," meaning "arabized" or "assimilated." It refers to those Christians who adopted the language, customs, and cultural practices of the Arabic-speaking Muslim society around them.
Mozarabs formed a distinct religious and cultural group that coexisted with the dominant Muslim population. They were the indigenous Christian inhabitants who remained in the territories conquered by the Moors during the eighth century. Despite living under Muslim rule, Mozarabs practiced Christianity and maintained a separate identity, receiving some protection and autonomy in return for the payment of a special tax.
As a result of their interactions with Muslim society, Mozarabs developed a distinctive blend of Latin Christian and Arab influences that permeated various aspects of their existence, including language, architecture, music, art, and social customs. They integrated Arabic words into their everyday language and adopted architectural styles and musical traditions from the Muslim culture.
Throughout the centuries, Mozarabs experienced varying degrees of tolerance and discrimination under different Muslim rulers. They faced periodic persecution and religious restrictions, but they preserved their Christian faith and maintained a distinct cultural legacy until the reconquest of the Peninsula by Christian kingdoms in the 11th and 12th centuries. Today, the term "Mozarab" is also used to refer to the surviving architectural and artistic remnants of the Mozarabic culture.
Common Misspellings for MOZARAB
- nozarab
- kozarab
- jozarab
- mizarab
- mkzarab
- mlzarab
- mpzarab
- m0zarab
- m9zarab
- moxarab
- mosarab
- moaarab
- mozzrab
- mozsrab
- mozwrab
- mozqrab
- mozaeab
- mozadab
- mozafab
- mozatab
Etymology of MOZARAB
The word "Mozarab" is derived from the Arabic word "Musta'rab" (مستعرب), which means "arabicized" or "arabized". It is coined from the root word "araba" (عرب), which signifies "Arab" in Arabic. The term developed during the period of Muslim rule in the Iberian Peninsula, referring to the Hispano-Visigoths or Christians who lived under Islamic rule and adopted Arab customs, language, and elements of Muslim culture. The Mozarabs were a distinct Christian community who maintained their own liturgical traditions while incorporating aspects of Islamic influence.
Infographic
Add the infographic to your website:
