The Almoravids were a Berber Muslim dynasty that emerged in the 11th century in North Africa, particularly in what is now Morocco. They were known for their military conquests and for establishing a vast empire that included parts of present-day Spain and Western Sahara. The Almoravids played a significant role in the spread of Islam and the preservation of Islamic culture in the regions they controlled. They eventually declined in power by the 12th century, giving way to the Almohads.