Moorish Rule (903–1229)
In the year 903, Emir Isam al-Jawlani conquered Mallorca for the Caliphate of Cordoba. It began an era lasting over 300 years that profoundly shaped Mallorca — from agriculture to language to architecture.
Medina Mayurqa
The Arabs called the island Mayurqa (from which "Mallorca" is derived) and made the capital Medina Mayurqa (Palma) a significant center with mosques, madrasas, markets (souks), and a population of an estimated 25,000 people — a remarkable size for the Mediterranean of the 10th century.
The most significant surviving structure from this era is the Palau de l'Almudaina — originally the Alcazar (palace) of the Moorish governors, later rebuilt by the Christian kings, today the official residence of the Spanish king on Mallorca. The basic structure — courtyard, arch architecture, gardens — is still Arab-influenced.
The Banys Arabs (Arab Baths) in Palma are another jewel: a small but exquisite bathhouse with horseshoe arches on twelve columns — each one a spolia, reused from older Roman or Visigothic buildings. A fascinating testament to the cultural layering of Mallorca.
Agriculture and Irrigation
Perhaps the most important legacy of the Moorish period is the sophisticated irrigation systems. The Arabs brought the technique of qanats (underground water channels), norias (water wheels), and terraced agriculture to Mallorca. The orange groves of Soller, the almond trees, and the systematic olive cultivation in the Tramuntana are due to Moorish innovations.
Many place names reveal their Arabic origin: Binissalem (from "ibn" — son), Alcudia (from "al-qudya" — the hill), Bunyola (from "bunyula" — small vineyard). Agricultural terms like "acequia" (irrigation channel) and "aljibe" (cistern) also come from Arabic and are still used in Mallorca today.
The Moorish rule did not end abruptly but in stages: After the collapse of the Caliphate in 1031, Mallorca became an independent Taifa kingdom, then part of the Almoravids (from 1116) and finally the Almohads — until Jaume I reconquered the island in 1229.