Documents from Christian churches in North Africa are rare following the Arab conquest in 699 AD. What survives is a handful of letters relating to churches and local Arab authorities which cast some insight into the state of the African church during the height of the Caliphate. These documents are few and far between and are largely of Italian origin. The papacy attempted to remain active in the affairs of Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco throughout the Medieval period until the arrival of the Spanish and Portuguese missions during the 15th century.