The country’s
first inhabitants were nomadic tribes known as the Berbers; however in the 7th
century from the east came the Arabs through the Suez channel, establishing
Islam’s first capital in the region at Kairouan and then reaching the Atlantic.
This is known as the islamisation of the Maghreb.
During the 8th
century the vexations of the Arab government triggered a Berber revolt. From
then onwards the Maghreb escaped from the authority of Baghdad and was split
into numerous independent kingdoms, one of these being that of Fés founded by
Chérif Idriss I.
During the 11th
century a Berber tribe that came from the Sahara invaded Morocco. They brought
with them a new Muslim faith. This tribe was known as the
Almoravids who founded Marrakesh as their
capital.
During the 12th
century a religious reform caused the uprising of the Berbers of the High Atlas.
Ibn Toumert’s preaching and Abd El-Moumen’s military action resulted in the
formation of the Almohades dynasty. For
30 years they ruled over all the countries from Castille to Tripoli. The urban
civilisation impregnated by the Andalousian influence blossomed. Eager builders
left many traces that are real jewels of Andalusian art. They were thrown out of
Spain in 1212 and their mismanaged African empire with a lot of internal
problems was taken over by the Beni Merin.
It was the
Merenids (1269-1465) that set up their
dynasty in Fes. The 13th and 14th century were a period of prestige
where arts and literature prospered tremendously. Art in Morocco reached a high
degree of refinement as is shown by the necropolis of Chelleh, just outside
Rabat and the medersas that appeared in their cities.
In the 16th
century the Chorfa Saadiens, descendants of prophet Mohammed, led the holy war that was sparked by strong
religious feeling and by the beginning of national awareness due to foreign
interference in the country. This is the Saadien reign (1554-1659)
Then came the
Alaouites (from 1659) who still reign
today. This dynasty was set up successively by Moulay ali Cherif, Moulay Rachid
and Moulay Ismail. Moulay Hassan ruled the country wisely (1873-1894) but it was
paralysed by economic setbacks, and therefore was forced to undergo trade
interferences from England, Spain and France that gradually led to the country’s
loss of sovereignty.
At the end of
World War II, Mohammed V asked the French government to put an end to the
protectorate; after some years of exile, he regained his throne. On 2nd
March 1956 the independence of Morocco was signed. In his 34 years of reign he
participated in the awakening of his country’s national sovereignty. He drafted
the constitution that after several modifications was finally ratified by his
son Hassan II in March 1972. Morocco owes him its economic and political
modernisation. After his death prince Sidi Mohammed was made king of Morocco
under the name of Mohammed VI.
Without a
doubt, Morocco has a variety of breathtaking landscapes.
Hospitality,
nature and culture have met up in this small part of Africa just a few steps
away from your home.
The mountain is
a receptacle of life and beauty with the Atlas and the Toubkal mountain that
reaches 4165m high. The Rif in the north, the Sirwa in the south and the Saghho
form the massifs of the anti-Atlas overlooking the Sahara. Not to mention the
Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts. All these together are several thousand
kilometres long and offer a multitude of landscapes.
In the south,
the desert has the snowy mountain tops as a background, the small rivers and the
palm trees of Draa and Dades, all these superb landscapes together with the
magnificent Casbahs constructed from rammed earth have survived for centuries.
South Morocco
is nothing but barren immensities formed by hamadas that are dry, rocky
plateaux, swept by the winds “regs” or sandhills “ergs”.
The oases are
quite rare but the high Draa valley, from Agdz to Zagora, the Ziz valley from
Errachidia to Talilat still have some of the most beautiful palm trees thanks to
the important irrigation works undertaken.
Let’s forget
what we might see and just simply say that Morocco’s major advantage is to unite
many different spaces, atmospheres and geographic, aesthetic and human
qualities, all in an area of 710 850 kms.
Morocco’s
population is more than 30 million, of which nearly half is under 20. The
inhabitants are mainly Arabs or Berbers (Imazighen was the original name of the
Berbers). The majority of the Berbers live in the mountain regions or near the
desert. If Rabat is the capital of government and Casablanca the capital of the
economy, the country’s real historical and tourist capital is Marrakech. Other
important cities are Fés and Meknés (both imperial), Agadir capital of the
south, Ouarzazate on the Sahara’s doorstep, Essaouira (ex-Mogador) looking over
the Atlantic and of course Tangier.
Industry:
Morocco ranks 2nd producer of phosphate, 12th for silver
and 8th for lead.
Agriculture:
The country produces wheat, barley, citrus fruits, dates and olives.
Stock farming:
livestock of about 16 million sheep, 5 million goats, and 2.4 million bovines.
Fishing:
Coastal and high sea fishing is developing strongly. In 1995 annual production
was 846.000 tons of different species.
Tourism and
craft industry:
They are becoming an important sector of the economy.
RELIGION
Morocco’s
population is 99% Muslim. Religious rituals and festivities are strictly
followed in the country. During Ramadan, fasting lasts from dawn until the first
star appears in the sky.
Muslims are
called by the muezzin from the top of a minaret five times a day to pray.
LANGUAGES
Official
: Arabic. The language of the Koran was brought by the Islamic conquerors.
Classical Arabic is the language of education, Moroccan Arabic (darija) is a
dialect of the standard language which varies according to the region and social
status.
Berber :
Spoken by 50 to 60% of the population, especially spoken by the Moroccans who
come from the southern regions. This is the oldest language in North Africa.
French :
especially used in the cities, practical teaching from primary school.
Spanish :
Spoken in the northern parts of the country and the former Spanish Sahara.
CLIMATE
Very different
from one region to another: Mediterranean in the north (hot in summer, mild in
winter), Atlantic in the west (temperate all year around), Saharan in the south
(cold and humid in winter, very hot in summer). Summer is temperate on the coast
and in the mountains, but it is also the windy season with hot winds coming from
the south west (sirocco,chergui). Moroccan’s are right in saying that their
country is a cold one where the sun is hot. Temperatures can vary tremendously
over a 24-hour span. Warm clothing in winter is necessary; it is also useful for
high altitudes and for the evenings in stopover towns.
Marrakech, altitude 466
m, temperature : March 9° to 23°, August 25° to 40° and November 10° to 23°
Further south 500 km,
Erfoud at the same altitude than Marrakesh the temperature is : March 10° to
26°, August 30° to 50° and November 11° to 26°
In the deep
forests of the Middle Atlas, still exist a very rare panther, magot monkeys,
wild pigs and mountain sheep. Even if the lion of the Atlas has disappeared,
lynxes and red foxes still live there. In the High Atlas the Mouflons (wild
sheep with big horns) still find refuge. We can even find the deer of Berberie,
the gazelle of Cuvier in the mountains and in dry and barren country we could
find the Dorcas gazelle. Hares, porcupines, squirrels and many turtle species
are visible, nevertheless the most visible wildlife are the birds especially
during the migration periods (white storks).
Walking allows
you to go through different steps of vegetation. At over 900m altitude appear
the thuja forests very often associated with the cade and Phenician juniper
tree. Higher up we might see a green oak forest. In the middle Atlas,
magnificent Atlas Cedar trees several hundred years old. In the interior valleys
appear the Aleppo pine tree, juniper tree, the dimorphe ash tree and various
shrubs that look like broom. In the Atlantic and arid areas we find argan trees
from which is extracted excellent oil
Some history
