The New Millennium Expansion Era

Lore & Background

The influx of Arabs to the Maghreb began in the 7th century with the Arab conquest of the Maghreb, when Arab armies conquered the region as part of the early Muslim conquests. This initial wave was followed by subsequent periods of migration and settlement, notably during the Umayyad and Abbasid caliphates and later Arab dynasties. However, the most significant wave occurred in the 11th century with the arrival of more Bedouin tribes from the Arabian Peninsula, such as Banu Hilal, Banu Sulaym, and Maqil. The last notable influx was from Al-Andalus in the 17th century as a result of the Reconquista. These migrants established numerous Arab empires and dynasties in the Maghreb, such as the Aghlabids, Idrisids, Sulaymanids, Salihids, Fatimids, Saadians and 'Alawites.

Reader's Guide

Arab migration had a profound impact on the culture and demographics of the Maghreb. Over centuries, the region underwent a process of Arabization, in which the indigenous Berber population adopted the Arabic language and culture. While genetic studies show high continuity with pre-Arab populations, the cultural and linguistic identity of the Maghreb became predominantly Arab. Historians have characterized the Arab migrations, particularly those of the Hilalians, as the most significant event in the medieval history of the Maghreb.

Did You Know?

• The first Arabs arrived in the 7th century with the goals of conquering Byzantine territories in the Maghreb and spreading Islam.
• During the earliest Muslim conquests in the 7th to 8th centuries, about 150,000 Arabs settled in the Maghreb.