Conquering the Sicily Island by Muslims and their Impact on European Culture and Civilization

In the center of the Mediterranean Sea, there is an island known as Sicily. This Island is a beautiful and fertile land with a mild Mediterranean climate. It is located at the intersection of two continents, Europe and Africa, and is the nearest connecting route between these two continents after the Strait of Gibraltar. This geographical location has made Sicily the target of many attacks and invasions throughout history. Muslims were one of these groups that attacked this Island many times. The present study, through descriptive-analytical method, tried to answer this question: what was the history of the Muslim conquest of Sicily and what cultural and civilizational achievements did they have during their domination there over the centuries? Research shows that the Muslim ruling dynasties on the Island flourished and expanded Islamic culture and civilization. The effects of this prosperity, especially in the form of art and architecture, continued even after the collapse of Islamic governments and during the Christian Norman era. Some Normans were tolerant towards Muslims and this made the effects of Islamic culture and civilization on the Island still noticeable.