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
Capital City Classic Association, before Richmond left for the Atlantic 10 Conference (A10). In 2012, it once again became a conference rivalry with VCU's arrival in the A10. The rivalry has been known under a number of different names over the years, including the Black & Blue Classic, before being renamed the Capital City Classic for the 2014–15 season. "Richmond victories are shaded in ██ blue. VCU victories shaded in ██ gold." Capital City Classic The Capital City Classic is a college basketball series between the VCU Rams and the Richmond Spiders. Both schools are located within Virginia's state capital of Richmond—Virginia Commonwealth