after 711, the moors occupied the iberian peninsula; lisbon () is taken in 716 by berbers under the command of abd al-aziz ibn musa (who received the governorship of al-andalus, in the name of the umayyad caliphate of damascus), who also captured the region of sacavém. much like other areas of the al-garb al-andalus (much of ancient roman lusitania), the peoples under moorish dominion became bi-lingual, while maintaining their christian faith (not converting until much later). in sacavém the community that circled the church of nossa senhora dos prazeres maintained their faith and culture (under the bishop of lisbon), something that was possible due to the religious tolerance of the invaders to the "ahl al-kitāb" (or "people of the book"). it is likely that the medieval tower in sacavém de cima, in the "largo do terreirinho", fronting the chapel of "senhora da saúde" (in the historic centre of the settlement) originated during this muslim period, when the local christians were required to pay jizya.