They have gained control over the Iberian Peninsula: The Umayyad Caliphate had control over most of the Iberian Peninsula, which was later taken by the Christians in the Reconquista. Additionally, they had control over Malta and Sicily.
We have things such as maps, scientific and math ideas, columns and pillars, an alphabet and a calendar that we all use to this day. Even our legal system is based on what Rome had been doing
The main thing that made foreign goods more expensive and northern goods more competitive was that the northern factory system was very efficient and foreign goods were in high demand.
