In 711, the Umayyad Caliphate began its conquest of the Iberian Peninsula, starting with the Battle of Guadalete in present-day Spain. Led by Tariq ibn Ziyad, Muslim forces defeated the Visigothic king Roderic, which marked the beginning of nearly 800 years of Islamic rule in parts of Europe. This event significantly altered the cultural and religious landscape of the region, leading to a rich blend of Arabic and European influences that would shape the arts and literature for centuries.

The Umayyad conquest introduced Arabic language and literature to the Iberian Peninsula, influencing poets like Ibn Zaydun and Al-Mu'tamid, who wrote in both Arabic and Romance languages. The cultural exchange fostered by this period led to the development of new poetic forms and themes, particularly in the realm of love and nature, which would later influence European poets during the Renaissance.