Arabic-Latin Fusion

Andalusian culture was deeply influenced by over 700 years of Muslim rule during the Middle Ages. Córdoba became the largest and richest city in Western Europe and one of the largest in the world. The Arabs established universities in Andalusia (Spain), and cultivated scholarship, bringing together the greatest achievements of all of the civilizations they had encountered. During that period Arab scholars played a major part in reviving and contributing to Western astronomy, medicine, philosophy, and mathematics. Columbus’ sail to the “New World” in 1492 opened the Caribbean and South America to Spain and introduced new forms of sic and dance to Spain. In Puerto Rico one of the islands colonized by the Spaniards, Jibaro music represents the mix of the musical traditions of Spain with its Arabic influences, particularly in the performance of the “Seis”. Seis is a form of Jibaro music and dance that came to Puerto Rico from Spain in the 1680′s.