Muslim culture has been a constant presence in Spain and Portugal for many years. This presence began with the Umayyad conquest of Hispania, and ended, to a certain extent, with the prohibition of Islam in Spain around the mid-16th century. However, to this day, Islam has a significant presence in the Iberian peninsula.
The presence of a Muslim population left many important cultural traditions. Muslim literature flourished, particularly religious poetry. Moreover, philosophy enjoyed a great tradition in Andalusia. The city of Cordoba was an important center for learning and discussion. Muslim mysticism, occultism and astrology were very popular, and this left a significant legacy in Medieval science. Finally, Muslim art is still an important influence in the region, particularly when it comes to architecture.
