Islam attacked Spain in the year 711 AD, and continued its conquest until 719. Muslims occupied Spain for
almost 500 years. The Caliphate of al-Andalus was created, and all non-Muslims became dhimmis, second-
class citizens who had far less rights and had to submit to humiliating regulations. They were also forced to
pay the jizya, a special tax that non-Muslims had to pay as tribute to their Muslim occupiers.