The great, fertile valleys of Spain
were thus, through agricultural skill, made "to blossom as the rose."
Seeds were imported from different parts of the world, and much
attention was given to the culture of all plants which could be readily
raised in this country. Rice and cotton and sugar-cane were cultivated
through the process of irrigation. Thus Spain was indebted to the
Arab-Moors not only for the introduction of industrial arts and skilled
mechanics, but the establishment of agriculture on a firm foundation.

_Language and Literature_.--The language of the Arabians is said to be
peculiarly rich in synonyms. For instance, it is said there are 1,000
expressions for the word "camel," and the same number for the word
"sword," while there are 4,000 for the word "misfortune." Very few
remnants of the Arabic remain in the modern European languages. Quite
a number of words in the Spanish language, fewer in English and in
{314} other modern languages, are the only remnants of the use of this
highly developed Arabian speech. It represents the southern branch of
the Semitic language, and is closely related to the Hebrew and the
Aramaic. The unity and compactness of the language are very much in
evidence. Coming little in contact with other languages, it remained
somewhat exclusive, and retained its original form.

When it came into Spain the Arabic language reigned almost supreme, on
account of the special domination of Arabic influences. Far in the
north of Spain, however, among the Christians who had adopted the Low
Latin, was the formation of the Spanish language. The hatred of the
Spaniards for the Arabs led these people to refuse to use the language
of the conquerors. Nevertheless, the Arabic had some influence in the
formation of the Spanish language. The isolated geographic terms, and
especial names of things, as well as idioms of speech, show still that
the Arabian influence may be traced in the Spanish language.

In literature the Arabians had a marked development. The Arabian
poetry, though light in its character, became prominent. There were
among these Arabians in Spain ardent and ready writers, with fertile
fancy and lively perception, who recited their songs to eager
listeners. The poet became a universal teacher. He went about from
place to place singing his songs, and the troubadours of the south of
France received in later years much of their impulse indirectly from
the Arabic poets. Whi