The term Saracen comes from Greek, derived from the Arabic word for Easterners. Romans first used the term Saracen to describe the nomadic Arab tribes of the Syro-Arabian Desert and the Saraceni name is very well known as a result of those conquering tribes who settled in various regions of Italy. The Saracens were considered one of the most culturally and socially advanced races during the 12th Century Crusades, excelling in all facets of art and responsible for some of the most significant mathematical discoveries in the world.