History For several centuries, Morocco was the center
of a great empire stretching all the way from
Moroccan child. (Morocco)
Northern Spain through West Africa. The primary
unifying factor of the disparate regions of this empire was a shared religion.
Between the ninth and the twelfth centuries, three dynasties of sultans
came to power, each having a clear objective of spreading the Islamic
faith. The Berber tribes that had embraced Islam were quickly associated
as equal partners for further conquests. During these three centuries,
the conquest of Spain proceeded and the success achieved in the name of
the sultan further solidified the unity of Morocco. To this day, this
solidarity continues to assure both the political and spiritual authority
of the Moroccan kings.
After eight centuries of occupation by the Arabs, the
Catholic kings of Spain succeeded in driving out the Moslems and Jews
from Spain in 1492. Three million Moslems, which included a large number
of Europeans and Jews who had converted to Islam, sought refuge in Morocco
over the years, adding to a population that was no more than four million
at that time. Many of these refugees subsequently left Morocco for other
parts of the Arab world, as well as other Middle Eastern countries. Because
of its strategic position, Morocco, from the fifteenth century on, has
had to withstand the constant assaults of European powers, in particular
Spain, Portugal and France. This constant threat from the exterior, and
the responsive efforts of the Moroccan kings to mobilize the population
for resistance, further strengthened the unity and national consciousness
of the country.
After long centuries of resistance,
Morocco in the end lost its independence in 1912, when it was forced to
sign a protectorate treaty with France. Although the treaty left the ruling
Alaouite (or Alawite) dynasty in place, it ceded control of key governmental
functions to the French. Morocco regained its independence in 1956, and,
since then, the Alaouite dynasty has reasserted its rule over the country.
King Hassan II succeeded his father King Mohammed V in 1961 and built
a new
Ouarzazate. (Ouarzazate, Morocco)
model of government, which enabled him to retain
substantial authority while introducing selective elements of western-style
democracy, including an elected parliament and a system of multiparty politics.
Until recently, the center-right parties had dominated parliament and government.
In 1997, the King finally achieved his ambition of installing a "gouvernement
d'alternance", or a government that alternates from the right to the
left.
King Hassan II died on July 23, 1999, and was succeeded
by his son, King Mohammed VI. Western governments respected King Hassan
II as a moderate Arab leader and skilled international power broker. The
king played an important role in the Middle East peace process, and Morocco
is one of the few Arab countries that has managed to maintain commercial
ties with Israel. His successor, King Mohammed VI, has introduced a far-reaching
program of reforms and modernization.
Economy Morocco's market-based economy is becoming increasingly
diversified in recent years. Since the early 1980's, the government has
pursued an economic reform program supported by the IMF. The government
has restrained spending, revised the tax system, reformed the banking
system, followed supportable monetary policies, lifted import restrictions,
lowered tariffs, liberalized the foreign exchange regime and encouraged
foreign direct investments. A varied agricultural sector, a growing manufacturing
sector, a large tourist industry (boasting two million visitors in 1998)
and considerable influx of funds from Moroccan workers abroad, all contribute
to creating one of the stronger and stabler economies in the region. Morocco
has the largest phosphate reserves in the world and is rich in copper,
zinc, and silver. The recent discovery of major oil reserves in eastern
Morocco (Talsint) will ensure energy self-sufficiency for the next 30
years.
Morocco, situated on the northwestern tip of Africa,
covers a land area of 175,186 square miles (453,730 square kilometers).
When the disputed Western Sahara is included, the kingdom's land area
increases to 274,460 square miles (710,850 square kilometers). The kingdom
is bordered by Algeria on the east, by Mauritania on the south, by the
Mediterranean Sea on the north, and by the Atlantic Ocean on the west.
Near the northern city of Tangier, Morocco is separated from Spain by
the ten-mile-wide Straight of Gibraltar. The climate is mild near the
coasts and arid in the interior. The country enjoys rich fishing grounds
off both the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts.
Political Landscape The status of the Western Sahara, which comprises
approximately one-third of Morocco's land area, is one of the UN's longest-running
disputes. The seeds of the dispute were sown in 1975, when the Spanish
left the area without making a formal handoff to any succeeding governing
body. The Algerian-supported Polisario began a guerilla war in the late
1970's, but Morocco quickly asserted firm control over the area. In 1981,
Morocco accepted the principle of an UN-supervised self-determination
referendum, but disputes over voting eligibility have repeatedly delayed
the referendum. However, the government has offered to hold direct negotiations
with the Polisario to find a solution to the stalemate. As far as all
Moroccans are concerned, the Sahara will remain Moroccan.
Casablanca Casablanca is the economic center of Morocco and
its most modern city. The largest city in North Africa, with a population
of more than 4 million people, Casablanca is renowned not only in movie
lore but also for its fascinating array of eclectic architecture, its
leather work and its Medouin carpets. It is also the home of the third
largest mosque in the world, the Hassan II.
Phoenicians began using the
inlets of Casablanca as stopping-over points as early as the 7th
Kasbah. (Morocco)
century BC. The earliest known settlement in the
area was the tenth-century Berber port of Anfa. In the 13th century, Anfa
began to flourish as a result of extensive trade with the Portuguese and
Spanish. This commercial tie was abruptly severed in the 15th century, when
the Portuguese destroyed the city in retaliation for Berber piracy. In 1770,
the Alaouite Sultan, Mohammed Ibn Abdellah, rebuilt Anfa and renamed it
Dar El Beida ("House of the White Princess"). In 1781, Dar El
Beida was renamed Casa Blanca ("white house" in Spanish) by Mohammed
III, in commemoration of a trade agreement with Spain. By the end of the
19th century, Casablanca had become a center for international trade. Casablanca's
growth spurts have been tremendous, and the city has experienced surges
in urban development (notably in 1946 and in 1984). The eclectic influences
of French, Algerian and Tunisian architects ornament the city.
Rabat Rabat has been the capital of Morocco since 1912
and is second in size only to Casablanca, its neighbor to the southwest
down the Atlantic coastline. Rabat is home to some of the most historical
sites in Morocco and is famous for its rich embroidery and luxurious carpets.
The earliest settlements in
the Rabat area can be traced back to the 3rd century BC. In later years,
the Phoenicians and the Carthaginians used it as a port of call. In the
10th century, loyalist Muslim
Sand dune sunrise. (Merzouga, Morocco)
warriors built a ribat (fortified monastery) where
Rabat now stands. The city itself was founded in the 12th century by Yacoub
el-Mansour, the great Almohad conqueror, who built over three miles of fortifications.
Two of the gates that he built still stand today. With the collapse of the
Almohad dynasty came the decline of Rabat. In 1250, the Merinids abandoned
Rabat and anointed Fez as the new capital. The Alaouite sultans, Moulay
Rachid and Moulay Ismail, are recognized for squelching the flagrant piracy
in the area that led to the Portuguese retaliation against Casablanca. Wresting
control of the seas from the pirates ushered in an era of prosperous foreign
trade. In 1912, when Morocco became a French Protectorate, Rabat was once
again made the capital, and it remains so today.
Marrakesh Marrakesh was first claimed as Almoravide territory
in 1070 and it eventually became the capital of their empire. Its location
at the foot of the mountains, at the crossroads of ancient caravan routes
from Timbuktu, made it a key destination for trade and reprieve. In 1147,
the Almohad sultan, Abd
Jemma El Fna Square. (Marrakesh, Morocco)
el Moumen, captured the town. Thereafter, Marrakesh
flourished under Almohad rule, eventually becoming the Arab world's center
for philosophical studies, while growing rich on leather, sugar and ceramic
exports to Spain. This period of prosperity was followed by fifty years
of dynastic struggles and general decline. In 1269, Marrakesh lost its
status as capital when the Merinids seized power and transferred the capital
to Fez. By 1522, when the Saadians took control, the city was ruined and
decimated by famine. They made Marrakesh the capital of southern Morocco
and, when the Moroccan empire was reunified, Marrakesh was restored to
its former glory and to its status as an imperial city. However, famine,
rebellion, and wars struck during the first half of the 17th century.
In 1699, the Alaouite sultan, Moulay Richard, captured the town, taking
from it its status as capital when the government was consolidated in
Fez. During the mid-18th century, Mohammed III restored the city and its
capital status. In 1912, General Lyautey, France's first resident general
in Morocco, made the decision to once again relieve Marrakesh of its capital
status. While it is no longer the political capital, Marrakesh remains
a captivating and wonderful destination hidden behind its ancient ochre
ramparts.
Today Marrakesh is known as the "Jewel of the
South," a cultural collage of Berber, Arab and African influences.
Marrakesh is famous for the rich diversity and quality of its Berber carpets,
as well as for its leatherwork, including slippers sewn in the ancient
tradition.
Fez Fez is Morocco's oldest imperial city. Today,
in its role as Morocco's religious, intellectual and cultural center,
it is often referred to as the "Athens of Africa." Fez is the
heart and lifeblood of Morocco's Arabic and Islamic development and is
home to some 785 mosques. Fez is also widely regarded as the "craftwork
capital" of Morocco, famous for its Fez blue pottery, copper trays
and leather work.
The arrival of the first religious
refugees from the Middle East into the Fez region has been traced
Gate of the Royal Palace. (Fez, Morocco)
back to 788 AD. Fez el Bali was founded in 809 under
Moulay Idriss II. Fez el Bali was divided into two distinctly different
districts on either side of the Fez River. During the 8th century, eight
thousand Arab exile families settled on the right bank of Wadi Fez, having
been expelled from Spain's Andalusia by the Christian armies. The artistic
influence of these early settlers is evident in the decorative stucco and
mosaic that ornament Fez's mosques and Koranic schools.
One hundred years after the Arab settlement, two thousand
Kairaouine families established their homes on the opposite bank of Wadi
Fez. In the 10th century, the Kairaouine settlers built the imposing Kairaouine
University, the western world's first university, which still remains
the major intellectual center of North Africa. Important for its location
and commercialism, the Kairaouine Quarter continued to expand under the
Merenid dynasty during Fez's fourteenth-century Golden Age. In that era,
the New Fez, or Fez el Jadid, was born. After the First World War, a European
town with broad avenues was overlaid on the fascinating labyrinth that
is Fez.
Agadir Berber fishermen first settled Agadir. In the
12th century, the coastal Ksima Tribe began populating the area. From
1325 to 1540, control of the area had fallen primarily into the hands
of Portuguese traders. In 1541, the founder of the Saadian Dynasty, Mohamed
Echeikh el Mehdi, ejected the
Spices for sale in local souk. (Morocco)
Portuguese. Trade flourished under his rule,
and Agadir experienced a Golden Age. In the 17th century, the Alaouite
dynasty ousted the Saadians. Thereafter, the Berber Tazeroualt dynasty
rebelled against the Alaouites and took control of the Sous region. Under
the Berber's rule, Agadir became a major port and remained one until the
Alaouites reclaimed the area and closed the port.
In 1911, Kaiser Willhelm II, King of Prussia attempted
to set up a naval base near Agadir, on territory claimed by the Prussians
when the French Premier, Joseph Callaux, traded Agadir for a piece of
the Congo. French troops entered the area in 1913. In the 1930s, Agadir
played an important role as a staging post for French airmail and also
gained status as the world's leading sardine port. On February 29, 1960,
a devastating earthquake destroyed the city. By 1962, a modern resort
town had risen from the ruins, this time incorporating the latest seismically
sound technology.
Today, Agadir is the number one destination for vacationers
in Morocco. Agadir is known as the "Nice of Morocco," a fantastic
beachfront destination for leisure, water sports and coastal recreation.
It has a warm and pleasant climate and is the most important fishing port
in the kingdom.
Meknes Zenata Berbers from the Meknassa tribe founded
Meknes in the 9th century, but the town was captured by the Almoravids
in 1069. Meknes' prosperity attracted the interest of the Almohads, who
launched a siege against it that eventually succeeded in 1145. In the
early 1200's, the Merinids invaded and took their turn at Meknes' helm.
In the 15th century, the Berbers were driven out by the Arabs, and Meknes'
long and complicated chain of title saw ownership passed from the Wattasids
to the Saadians.
Moussem Sidi Ben Aissa. (Meknes, Morocco)
During the reign of Moulay Ismail in the 17th century,
the city experienced a golden age of growth and prosperity. In 1672, Moulay
Ismail was proclaimed sultan of the new Alaouite dynasty. He chose Meknes
as his political and military capital and redeveloped it to his imperial
standards. Over a period of 50 years, Moulay Ismail built palaces, mosques,
fountains, terraces, gardens, stables and shops to fill his mighty three-layer
ramparts. Today, tourists and residents alike enjoy the timeless grandeur
of this imperial city, understanding in small measure how it came to earn
its nickname, the "Versailles of North Africa." Meknes is less
touristy, more provincial and slower paced than Fez, and it is surrounded
by enchanting countryside. It is famous for its wood, metal and mosaic craftsmanship.
People The original inhabitants of North Africa, including
Morocco, are commonly known as Berbers. The
Berber women dancing at the Rose Festival.
(Valley of the Dades, Morocco)
Berbers are thought to be of Euro-Asian origin
because of the light coloration of their skin. Centuries of inter-marriage
with Arabs has resulted in the varied shades of Moroccan complexions today.
The state religion is Islam, although free practice of other monotheistic
religions is also guaranteed. Catholic
churches, Protestant churches, and synagogues are found in all of the
major cities, and mosques are found throughout the country. The official
written language is Arabic and the main spoken language is Moroccan Arabic,
a combination of Arabic, French and Spanish words. French is very widely
spoken throughout the country and is often used to conduct business. In
addition, there are also three Berber languages: Tarifit, Tamazight, and
Tashelhit.
Travel Tips Morocco has one of the lowest crime rates in the
world. Police and other law enforcement agents are prevalent in major
cities and tourist spots. There is not a dress code for women visiting
Morocco. In fact, many women in Morocco dress just like their American
counterparts. However, on tours of mosques and other holy places, you
will need to dress conservatively, just as you would dress to enter a
church in the U.S. (i.e., no shorts or tank tops). As in any country,
discretion with respect to your attire will help avoid unwanted attention.
Temperature/Weather Morocco is blessed with a Mediterranean climate.
It is warm on the coast and arid in the interior. Morocco's wet season
generally lasts from November through March, when the rain falls mainly
in the coastal areas. Morocco's mountain areas have cooler climates. Annual
average temperatures of the major cities are as follows: Rabat, 71°
F; Casablanca, 69° F; Marrakesh, 71° F; Ouarzazate, 64° F;
Fez, 66 °F; Meknes, 68° F; and, Tangier, 66° F.
Reading List In order to make the most of your trip to Morocco,
the following reading lists will help you gain a better understanding
of the landscape, culture and people. Here you can also purchase any books
you might need for your Global Adrenaline trip!
Global Adrenaline, Inc.
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Chicago, Illinois 60614
USA
Tel: +1-866-884-5622 (toll free in USA)
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