The Moorish occupation refers to the period from the 8th to the 15th century when Muslim forces, primarily of North African origin, controlled parts of the Iberian Peninsula, which includes modern-day Spain and Portugal. This era began in 711 AD when the Moors, led by the Berber general Tariq ibn Ziyad, invaded and rapidly conquered much of the region, establishing various kingdoms known as taifas. During the Moorish occupation, significant cultural, scientific, and architectural advancements occurred. The Moors introduced innovations in agriculture, mathematics, and medicine, and their influence is evident in landmarks such as the Alhambra in Granada and the Great Mosque of Córdoba. The occupation ended in 1492 with the Reconquista, when the Catholic Monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabella, completed the conquest of Granada.