Meanwhile, in Africa, the Arabs had been playing an instrument called the al-ud, or 'the wood,’ for centuries. When the Moors crossed the Straits of Gibraltar in the twelfth century to conquer Spain, they brought this instrument with them. It quickly became popular, and by the time anybody who spoke English was talking about it, al-ud had become lute….The Moorish artistic influence, blowing the cobwebs away from the stodgy Spanish art and society, created an artistic climate that encouraged music to flourish. And so, the instruments on which the music was played flourished as well, and continued to evolve and improve. This is a contribution that cannot be overstated.” The section “…created an artistic climate that encouraged music to flourish. And so the instruments on which the music was played flourished as well” is an example of—