Why do many places in southern Spain have Arabic names?

Answer 1

Not only the names, architecture also reveals the Arabic past of Southern Spain! The Southern part of Spain used to be Arabic provinces and cities! Spain and Northern Africa are just the Mediterranean Sea apart!
There is even a legend about the tears shed by the last Arabic prince of Spain, Boabdil creating a river under a famous castle.

Answer 2

Spain and Portugal were conquered by the Moors(Arab speaking) for more than 800 years,and there are a lot of remnants left behind like aquaducts,customs,water systems ,architecture and names as well as their blood .

Many people in the Algarve and Southern Spain have Moorish blood ,(fair skinned or very dark or brown ,curly hair ,some times blond hair and shortly build .the Moors were a very mixed race ,they say that they were mixed with viking blood)
the Portugese from the north of Portugal look completely different,tall olive skinned and sleek black hair

Answer 3

During the Dark ages, muslim armies invaded Spain and stayed there for a long time. That would explain many Arabic and Islamic names and architecture.

Answer 4

Because the Arabs conquered Spain in about 711 AD and the Abbassid Caliphate (I think) ruled there until the Reconquest in 1492.

Answer 5

The Arabs invaded spain and occupied them for quite some time. Enough that it greatly affected the language.

That's why some spanish words like Jalar (to pull) sound vaguely arabic.

Answer 6

Muslims made remarkable contributions to spain in past , thats why Modern spain is like this.
The contributions of muslims cannot be denied , they ruled spain over years .
The architecture of spain speaks for the glorious past of Muslims.Thats why you see Arabic names Architecture !
Regards,
Sidra

Answer 7

Because the arabs settled in spain hundreds of years ago, they actually have a strong influence not only in the spanish culture

Answer 8

Because the Arabs invaded Spain in 711 and were expelled in 1492. Were you sick when in your school talked about that ?

Answer 9

Because Spanish and many other languages that trace their roots to Latin are also Arabic.

Answer 10

Many were once conquered by the Moors, northern African tribes who themselves are decendants from Arabian nomads.