The clichéd image of the Moor, of a diabolical, dark-skinned, savage alien enemy, was put out by the Christians who drove them from Spain during the 15th century Inquisition, ending 700 years of a culturally rich civilisation.

They sought to wipe out all trace of Islam, by persecuting and expelling Muslims, destroying buildings and burning books and manuscripts.

When the Moors Ruled in Europe is a fascinating two-part look at what the Christians sought to hide and destroy: how this Islamic race transformed Europe, bringing a wealth of developments, public infrastructure and societal concepts that were light years ahead of England at the time.

The Islamic religious empire, at the pinnacle of its power, dominated land from China to Africa. In 711 AD, a tribe of newly converted Muslims from North Africa crossed the Straits of Gibraltar and invaded Spain. They then built a rich and powerful society, the capital of which, Cordoba, was the largest and most civilised city in Europe.

Presenter Bettany Hughes paints a fascinating picture of what archaeologists and historians have discovered about the story of the Moors in Spain: about when East met West in Europe.

Working from the remains of hidden cities, they have discovered among the many things Muslims introduced to Europe were the concept of romantic love; mathematics and the numbers we use today; advanced astronomy and medical practices; fine dining; paper; deodorant and erection creams. They also discovered a huge body of Classical Greek texts which had been lost for centuries.

Set in the magnificent Alhambra Palace in Granada, built by the Muslim kings in the 14th century, this documentary explores the secret of its construction, revealing a complex mathematical mystery that has helped decode the civilisation that built it.