Sicily and encouraged the growth of smallholdings, undermining the dominance of the latifundia. The Arabs further improved irrigation systems. The language spoken in Sicily under Arab rule was Siculo-Arabic and Arabic influence is still present in some Sicilian words today. Although the language is extinct in Sicily, it has developed into what is now the Maltese language on the islands of Malta today. A description of Palermo was given by Ibn Hawqal, an Arab merchant who visited Sicily in 950. A walled suburb, called the Al-Kasr (the palace), is the centre of Palermo to this day, with the great Friday mosque
Tercio of Sicily Tercio of Sicily The Tercio of Sicily () is one of the tercios that were created by a 1534 decree of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor. Since the 18th century, the Spanish army has maintained the tradition of this tercio in its regiments. The purpose of this regiment was to protect the Spanish possessions in Italy from enemy attack. The name includes "viejo" ("old") because it is one of the three first tercios created and originally comprised 12 companies (each consisting of 150-200 men). The tercio was stationed throughout Sicily as well as in Calabria, Marina de Catanzaro. Its first