Morocco
| (ar) | |||||
| Al-Maghribiya Mamlakatu'l (ar) | |||||
| Tageldit Umuk n (cradle) | |||||
| Kingdom of Morocco (en) | |||||
| |||||
| Motto : | |||||
 The shaded area on the map means the Western Sahara , claimed and largely controlled by Morocco, but whose sovereignty is not recognized at the UN. | |||||
| Official language | Arabic | ||||
| Capital | Rabat 34 02 'North 6 51' West | ||||
| Economic capital | Casablanca | ||||
| Form of State | Constitutional monarchy | ||||
| - King - Prime Minister | Mohammed VI Abbas El Fassi | ||||
| Area - Total - Water (%) | Classified 57 (40 ()) e 446 550 (710 850 ())km 2 1.059% | ||||
| Population - Total ( December 2009 ) - Density | Ranked 35 th 31,671,474 (square) cap. 83.14 (48.44 ()) inhabitants per km 2 | ||||
| Independence - Date | Of France (for Morocco "core") of Spain (for the Rif , the enclave of Sidi Ifni , the protectorate of Cape Juby and southern provinces (disputed)) - March 2, 1956 (for the French Zone) - April 7, 1959 (for the Spanish protectorate of Morocco ) - June 30, 1969 for the enclave of Ifni - November 14, 1975 for the northern two-thirds of Western Sahara (disputed) - August 14, 1979 for recovery of Oued Ed-Dahab (disputed) | ||||
| Demonym | Moroccan Moroccan | ||||
| HDI ( 2008 ) |  0.646 (medium) ( 127th ) | ||||
| Currency | Moroccan Dirham ( MAD ) | ||||
| Time Zone | UTC +0 or +1 in summer (2010: May 2 to August 7) | ||||
| National anthem | Anthem Shereefian | ||||
| Internet domain | . My | ||||
| Indicative Telephone | +212 | ||||
() With the Western Sahara | |||||
Morocco, in long form the Kingdom of Morocco, Arabic and in Berber and , or the Kingdom of Morocco, is a country located in north-western Africa and part of the Maghreb. His political capital is Rabat while the economic capital and largest city in the country is Casablanca. The country is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west by Spain , the Strait of Gibraltar and the Mediterranean Sea to the north by Algeria to the east and south by the de facto Mauritania beyond the Western Sahara dispute.
Morocco has for the political system a constitutional monarchy whose sovereign is the current King Mohammed VI , the Alawite dynasty , one of the oldest monarchies in the world. In 1912 , following the Treaty of Fez , and until independence in 1956 , the territory of Morocco was partitioned by a dual system of protectorate , assumed by France and by Spain. Morocco is a member of several organizations including the UN , the Arab League , the Arab Maghreb Union , the Francophonie and the Organization of Islamic Conference. Morocco is the only African country not to be part of the African Union , but he seeks to consolidate its relations with the European Union. In 1987 , Morocco has tried unsuccessfully to join the EEC, and was granted in 2008 an "advanced status" with the EU . On 15 May 2009 , he joined the North-South Centre of the Council of Europe . In June 2004 , in recognition of the close ties between the two countries and in appreciation the strong support of Morocco in the war against terrorism, the president of the United States pointed to Morocco as a major non-allied NATO .
According to historian Bernard Lugan is among others the lure of wealth from trade in the South (Sahara) to the north (the West) that will attract the desires of various tribes with the crossroads city Marrakech which will naturally capital of various dynasties, especially those from the South ( Almoravids , Almohad , Saadi ); the history of Morocco (the Idrissids to Alawites ) is marked by trade and wealth from South to North. The history and origin of Morocco were, are and will be marked by the link with the Sahara .
Marrakech.Morocco is said in Arabic al-Maghrib (), which means "sunset" or "the West "(literally:" North Africa ").
The same word in Arabic means also Maghreb wider , so when it is necessary to specify, called the al-Maghrib Morocco al-'aqa ( ), meaning "the distant West;" or "Far West", and means the Maghreb al-Maghrib al- arabiy ( ) or the "West Arabic".
The name French Morocco in turn derives from the pronunciation Spanish in Marrakech , Marruecos, city center of the country founded in 1062 and was the capital of three dynasties (of the Almoravids , the Almohad and Saadi ). This also derive Marrocos pronunciation (in Portuguese ), Marocko (in Swedish ), Morocco (in English ) and Marokko (in German , Norwegian and Dutch ), the Persians themselves caller Marrakech. The Turks call Fas that comes from the ancient capital of Morocco in the Alawite dynasty (before 1912 ), Fez. In the antiquity , the Greeks called the inhabitants of the region Maurusiens. From this name, the area consists of Morocco and western Algeria will be known as the Mauretania (not to be confused with Mauritania ). The area will then be divided into two Mauretania provinces by the Romans : Mauretania Tingitana with Volubilis its capital (ancient Berber Oulil) and the Mauretania with Cesarea Cesarean ( Tipaza ) for capital (central and western Algeria). Morocco is the country where the ancient Greeks located the mythical garden of the Hesperides.
Morocco was known as Kingdom of Marrakesh by the three dynasties that took this city as its capital, then as the Kingdom of Fez in the dynasties who resided in Fez. Alawite Dynasty, Morocco is also known as the Empire of Morocco. This term is widely used before 1956, is also up today because the Moroccan king, a descendant of Islam's prophet Muhammad , is "Cherif" that is to say, noble. In the nineteenth century, European cartographers always mentioned a "Kingdom of Morocco", stating the old capital "Morocco" (for Marrakech). At independence, the country became the official name of the Kingdom of Morocco and Sultan Mohammed ben Youssef became the king under the name of Mohamed V.
History
Morocco Foundation
The foundation of Morocco, a country considering itself the Arab-Berber, African and Muslim, is with the Idrissids allirent that their cause various tribes controlling small kingdoms or territories independent of any central authority. As and when alliances, Idrissids will extend their territorial influence with indigenous peoples and laying the groundwork for the organization of a state formed ( Makhzen ) times by the following dynasties. If Idrissids will start drawing the foundations of the state and the borders of Morocco are the current Almoravids who set up their capital, Marrakech will give the country its name (the name of Morocco is due to deformation of Marrakech French language); they consolidate and expand the work of fledgling and fragile Idrissids; later dynasties inherit the previous state experience.
Although other civilizations of the Mediterranean ( Rome , Carthage, etc. ..) have enriched the country's history and even if the current population of Morocco will participate in the growth of these civilizations, historians of the Morocco as belonging to foreign powers, in addition non-Muslim, an important point in defining the country.
From Idrissid the dynasties that followed, and last, they also forge alliances with tribes in the current Morocco, Morocco will be considered by historians.
At the time of Idrissids, Morocco called the Kingdom of Fez.
About Morocco, the term Empire is sometimes used because by definition, an empire is a collection of states or kingdoms (see the different maps of Morocco). This explains the term " imperial cities "still used today to describe the cities of Fez , Marrakech , Meknes and Rabat .
When Morocco is based, the rest of the Maghreb is fragmented kingdoms as independent territories, sometimes competing or war, no central authority that is to say as unorganized state run by indigenous peoples.
The organization organized state and allowed the Saadian Alawites to oppose the advancing Ottoman .
From the time Mousterian (120 000-40 000 years BP ), the site is the most explicit Jbel Irhoud located halfway between the cities of Marrakesh and Safi and where were discovered two skulls of hominids , the tools associated with the industry-Levalloiso Mousterian and important remains of animals now extinct.
The time Aterian (60 to 40 000 years BP ) has brought its own set of tools mushroom found in many caves along the coast Atlantic (Dar Sultan 2) . Nevertheless, this period was also marked by dramatic climatic changes have resulted in a desertification unprecedented in Morocco and the scarcity or even disappearance of many animal and plant species. This dynamic, however, was thwarted by the natural barrier posed by the chains of the Atlas and Rif , whether in Morocco or elsewhere in the Maghreb.
The arrival of Homo sapiens in North Africa before the Epipaleolithic has been demonstrated since the industries Aterian are not the work of the Neanderthals , whose range is exclusively Eurasian , but rather of Homo sapiens having archaic features.
There are about 21,000 years, civilization Iberomaurusian born. It is characterized by rather sophisticated and funeral rites by a refinement of the tools used. Nevertheless, there is no question of agriculture. Cave Taforalt in the region of Oujda is the largest deposit of the time.
This civilization is maintained and spread throughout the Maghreb before gradually mix into the ninth millennium BC with Capsian people , ancestors of the Berbers modern. The first elements discovered in that period ( Neolithic ) date from about 6000 years. They reflect a settlement already advanced and a relative control of agricultural techniques.
The ancient Morocco
From the years - 3000 is developing in Morocco the Beaker culture. Therefore Morocco entered the Bronze Age and we are witnessing the spread of a specific black ceramic whose presence is attested in a number of graves in the region Rif.
From the eleventh century BC. AD , the hardy traders Phoenicians came from Lebanon today reach the Moroccan coast, including the Atlantic coast. They founded many outlets that serve as bases for many Arab and Roman cities (which were the main Tingis and Lixus , current Tangier and Larache ). Incidentally, it was at this time already that we date the earliest installations of Jewish populations in Morocco
Autonomy progressive Carthage Phoenician benefits based on the Moroccan coast to the extent that they will be further enhanced due to the relative proximity to the new capital of the Punic empire. The Carthaginian influence is felt greatly from s indigenous people, whose organization is improving in parallel. Thus the Berber tribes unite gradually, founding kingdoms consistent with the first will be the kingdom of Mauretania first confined in the north-west of the current Morocco. The south is occupied by Getulians and east by the Numidian.
Due to the support of the Mauretania in the Roman Empire during the destruction of Carthage , he will forge a close friendship between the two entities (hence the ouster of Chief Numidian Jugurtha ). King Bocchus is seen even awarded the title of Friend of the People by the Roman Senate and win the friendship of the consul Gaius Marius. During the reign of Juba II of Mauretania became a vassal kingdom, renowned for its exports of marine products and purple, rich enough to carve its own currency with gold. A brilliant urban civilization develops, influenced both by the Carthaginian heritage and artistic currents of Greece and of Egypt. Such influences are without doubt due to the patronage of one's own wife of Juba II, Queen Cleopatra Selene , who is none other than the daughter of Mark Antony and Cleopatra VII. But such wealth is fueling the lust of Rome, which Ptolemy of Mauretania , Juba successor, II, will pay the price.
At an invitation from Ptolemy to Rome , the last king is murdered by maurtanien Emperor Caligula , which will result after two years of unrest annexation of Mauretania ( 42 AD ) which will be designated as in the name of Mauretania Tingitana , officially decreed by the emperor imperial province Claude I.. Again, only the north of the current Moroccan territory is actually under Roman control, the rest remaining Berber territory. The Romans founded a city propspre at Volubilis (near the current Meknes ). Nevertheless, the administrative capital will remain Tingis, future Tangier , the seat of a procurator , governor of the province, military rank and belonging to the equestrian order ( Roman knight ). During this period considerable autonomy is given to different tribes (as evidenced by the famous tables Banasa ), but the constant pressure of southern tribes and internal crises in the empire will gradually because of the Mauretania Tingitana. In III century the province was reduced to the coast north and Sala (now Salt ). During the Roman cities, colonies of Roman law and Latin are adopting civic buildings and homes decorated with works of art (sculptures, mosaics). Agricultural plains are shared by the local aristocracy, which is enriched in particular the exploitation of the olive tree whose products are exported to neighboring provinces. Rangelands are left with more distant tribes nomadic or semi-nomadic. Tingis ports and Sala experiencing intense commercial activity.
In 429, tribes Vandals from Germany through the Strait of Gibraltar but in their imperturbable race to what remained of the fabled Carthage , they have little control over the Mediterranean coast, losing interest in the interior. A century later, the Byzantines , who want to destroy the Vandal kingdom pacify northern territory, opening up at the same time the tribes Moors from the rest of the country. The government of Constantinople, created the province of Mauretania II, which includes Tangier , Ceuta , Lixus and the extreme south of Spain, managed by one Exarch.
References External links
Role of tribes in the country's history
As in the history of many nations around the world, no Moroccan dynasty (Idissides of the Alawite) can not win by itself. All will have to extend and consolidate their geographical influence on shorter periods, to form alliances (interested, religious, marital, forced or negotiated peaceful) with several other Muslim tribes and sometimes Jewish country. Islam will be the main glue between the various tribes that make up the kingdom will be born, but his interpretations of conflict. The fact that some dynasties are claimed Shereefian will not be a sufficient advantage to their persistence.
Morocco will remain a heavily tribal long even after the country gained independence in 1956. That's why, even today, representatives of different tribes of the country continues to renew their allegiance to King during the annual festival throne. Given the family discord and power struggles within the various successive Moroccan dynasties all members (without exception) of the royal family are also required to swear allegiance to the King. The Throne Day aims to weld and to remind the link between the monarch and the people especially in difficult moments in the history of the country.
Arab conquest of anarchic unrest
In 649 began the conquest of the Maghreb by the troops Arab. That's 35 years later that the troops actually enter into Moroccan territory. Berber tribes located both in the foothills of the Atlas and the Rif in the fertile plains in the Atlantic will support first the Byzantines settled in coastal Mediterranean they prefer the Arabs in particular because of diplomatic mistakes. Byzantine destruction facilities around the year 700 has finally given the resistance Berber who then convert to the Islam brought by Arab conquerors. The Berbers of Morocco were then very weakly Christianized while the Jewish population not only very weakly converted to Islam. Moreover, Islam will therefore never challenged in Morocco, contrary to what might happen in Algeria or Tunisia. On the other hand, the year 708 corresponds to the integration of Morocco in the empire of the Umayyads. In the wake of success in Morocco, the Arab armies cross the Strait of Gibraltar under the command of Tariq ibn Ziyad and reach the Navarre from 715.
In 740 , the tribes Berber adopt Kharijism found closer to the principles of "tribal democracy" that the doctrine Umayyad. The caliphate that rejects this heresy folds, weakened from Damascus by the irresistible rise of the Abbasids. Morocco is known anarchy.
The history of Idrissids is inseparable from the person of Idris I , a descendant of Ali and Fatima, son and daughter of the Prophet of Islam Mohammed , who fled the massacres victim was with him and his family took refuge in the Middle Atlas , at Volubilis , the ancient Roman city fallen. Getting the backing of local tribes, in 789 he founded the city of Fez in the plain of Sass which he made the capital of his new kingdom, Morocco, proclaimed in 791. Assassinated by an envoy of the caliph Harun ar-Rashid , his son Idris II succeeded him after a regency. He extends his capital and his kingdom and advance beyond Tlemcen , taken by his father in 789 subjects and many tribes Zenata. His successor Mohammad will build the prestigious mosque Quaraouiyine , one of the first universities in history. At this time, Fez became a leading intellectual centers of the Arab world, attracting leading scientists and theologians. The Kingdom of Morocco is expanding their boundaries but regularly finds himself threatened by the powerful dynasty of the Fatimids in the east. Indicated caliphs Cordoba in the early tenth century , the Idrissids will also experience pressure to the north of the Umayyads. In 985 , the Fatimids and their vassals of Algeria push Idrissids to take refuge in Andalusia.
By the mid- tenth century , the weakening of Idrissids not only because of external pressures but also internal dissension leads to increased activity of the major Berber tribes who conquered and founded many cities. States Sijilmassa in the south and Nekor in the north and continue gaining momentum during this period.
References also external links
Kingdom of Berghouata (between the eighth and tenth centuries)
- Reference: Encyclopedia Britannica Berghrouata English
- see also external links
Incursions by other tribes Zenetes
To 954 and by Ibn Khaldun , three major tribal confederations Zenata . Subsequently, Ziri Ibn Attia of Maghraoua conflicts with the leaders of Banu Ifren and Meknassa. A ruling will be fierce struggle between fractions Zenata. The Banu Ifren attack Berghouata and take several times Fez , stronghold Maghraoua. The latter eventually restore the balance of the Maghreb el Aksa . The reign of the 3 tribes Zenata end with the arrival of the Banu Hilal and Almoravids to the eleventh century in 1059. The Zenetes be ousted by the Almoravids in the Maghreb el Aksa . Any time, Zenetes were masters only of roads and commerce in the region. This period is characterized by a certain preponderance of tribal democratic practices, as was the case two centuries ago during the riots kharijites . The Zenetes demonstrated by their history that they could negotiate with all tribes in North Africa. Several alliances and treaties have been developed during this period. Construction was developed, and several cities have been booming (construction of a mosque , kala, ksours, etc.). In 1068 , the three "dynasties" are falling as a result of the zeal manifested by the fact that some leaders of their determination to engage in holy wars .
References also external links
Almoravid dynasty
While the "useful Morocco" is a prey to the lusts of the neighboring political entities and the internal rifts, three major Berber tribes share the Saharan regions. The Lemtouna, and Massoufa Goddala (or Gadala, distant descendants of the ancient Getulians ), all three members of the confederation Sanhaja Islamized and two and a half centuries earlier, wage war and regularly wander towards the south where they threaten the empire of Ghana and other states of Sudan. Of the tribe Lemtouna , Emir Ibrahim ibn Yahya goes to 1035 to perform the pilgrimage to Mecca. There, he becomes aware of the need to perfect Islam from its congeners in the Adrar region. In stop in Kairouan, he tries to get this logistical support from local religious eminences, but without result. It will be in the region of Taroudant Or a man named Ben Zellou Agg showed him the existence of a preacher in the desert, some Abdallah Ibn Yasin from southern Morocco. Yahya Ibn Ibrahim and Abdallah Ibn Yasin then went back both in the Adrar convert Djoudala (tribe Lemtouna ) at Malikism Puritan. If leaving their teachings are rather well received, their austerity and radical methods (musical instruments and dress in bright colors banned) finally tired. Yahya Ibn Ibrahim and Abdallah Ibn Yasin then wandered in the desert and went to base so a ribat on the island of Tidra between Greyhound Bay and Cape Timiris. There they conceptualisrent a doctrine which earned them the name of the Almoravids (Al-Murabitun, ), people of Ribat.
The mystical atmosphere of excitement that prevailed in the convent military attracted many followers from all parts of Western Sahara and beyond. From 1042 to 1052 , the Almoravids conquered the whole Western Sahara and turn their gaze to the north. Yahya Ibn Ibrahim was killed and replaced by Abu Bakr Ibn Umar. Therefore the expansion of Almoravids is irresistible. Aoudaghost , stronghold of the empire of Ghana and important step Transaharienne trade is taken and destroyed. The following year, it was the turn of Sijilmassa yield to pressure Almoravid and see his teachers Zenetes ruthlessly exterminated. The same year ( 1056 ), Taroudant and the Souss world come to the invaders. The Almoravids did so one idea to submit the fertile plains of Morocco helpful and fearless tribes of the Atlas. However, fighting against heretics Berghouata drag and are more difficult than expected. Yahya Ibn Ibrahim even mortally wounded and buried on a tributary of Bouregreg. Abu Bakr would have to go back into the desert to save an end to strife and then entrusted the command of the northern lands newly conquered his cousin, a certain Ibn Youssef Tachfin. In 1072 , the latter prevents the return of Abu Bakr and is therefore Marrakech , founded two years earlier, its capital. The moral rigor of these "Veiled" and their commitment to the values of Islam attracted many frustrated years of lawlessness and ambient Youssef Ibn Tasufin poorly formed without an army of 20,000 men he cocked crossbows. However, submission of the brave tribes Zenetes was not the easiest. The latter rallied to even occasionally bourgeois elites of Fez and Tetouan , determined to push those tribes whose Puritanism was at odds with the aspirations of refinement and luxury that they had imported from Andalusia. Northern cities, Meknes fell first, then it was the turn of Fez (1060 or 1061), cities of Rif , of Tlemcen (1069) and finally to Oujda (1081). Tangiers and Ceuta , strongholds of the dynasty hammudite of Malaga towards 1084 that yielded only after experiencing a seat and suffered terrible tortures. To the east, the Almoravids advanced to Algiers (Tenes and Oran were won in 1082).
While in the bright Andalusian princes Muslims suffered the first setback in league against the Christians around the person of Alfonso VI , the extraordinary military prowess of the "Veiled" rigid manners sound like a blessing. Muttawakil of al- Taifa of Badajoz uses the Almoravids from 1079. In 1082, it was the turn of Ibn Abbad Al Mutamid seek the masters of Morocco. In 1086, in response to these calls and to reverse the "decadence" civilizational of Al-Andalus (arts flourishing wine consumption ...), Youssef Ibn Tasufin fact embark Ceuta the tune of 7,000 cavalry and 12,000 infantry. Quickly, the kings of different Taifa rally the armies Almoravids. The victories keep coming and the armies of Alfonso VI are routed near Badajoz 23 October 1086. Tasufin Ibn Youssef returned to Morocco settle internal affairs but the disorder in Andalusia pushed back. It is, however, prompted by fakih to return, because of difficulties during the siege in Aledo and above divisions between Taifa he personally considered as a shame for Islam. In 1090 , a council Almoravid to Algeciras declared war on reyes de Taifa accused of impiety. The alliance of some of these with Christian princes did not prevent the irresistible advance of the Almoravids in al-Andalus , which ended in 1094 with the capture of Badajoz and the merciless killing of Al- Mutawakil and his family. The victories keep coming even in the face Cid entrenched in Valencia.
In 1106 , after the capture of Valencia and while the Balearic Islands are occupied, Youssef Ibn Tasufin dies and his son, Ali Ben Youssef inherits the throne. The son of a Christian slave freed, he becomes at the same time master of an empire stretching from the Tagus River in Senegal , the Algerian coast to Timbuktu. He appoints his brother Temyn governor of Al-Andalus. Almoravids defeated armies Sancho, son of Alfonso VI at the siege of the castle of Ucles. Alfonso VI died the following year, 1109. Ali then returns to Andalusia and won seats in Madrid , Guadalajara and Talavera. To the west, the armies Almoravids grow up Porto , even threatening the coast of Galicia. To the east, the Balearic used logistic base for raids carried out against Barcelona. However, many military exploits fail to address the discontent surrounding Andalusia where the delicate balance between Mozarabians , Jews and Arabs is somewhat disturbed by the religious rigor imposed by the conquerors. The burning of the writings of the popular Al-Ghazali only amplifies the discomfort of cultural elites, nostalgic for the golden age of the Umayyad caliphate. Solicitation by the divine army of the Christian militias of Reverter to maintain order in Morocco itself is misunderstood by the hill tribes of the High Atlas , day by day more dissatisfied with the authoritarianism Almoravid.
Almohad dynasty
Mohammad Ibn Toumert , future Mahdi and son of a amghar, village chief of the tribe Harga in the High Atlas. Very early animated by religious zeal, he began in his youth bringing the multiple trips to visit Baghdad , Cairo and perhaps even Damascus where he discovers the extent of Muslim tradition, and in particular Sufism. Quickly, he has a deep aversion to the narrowness of Malikism reigning supreme in his homeland. It was in 1117 he returned to the Maghreb , via Tripoli and Tunis and finally Bejaia where his pious sermons galvanize a crowd. At Melalla, he befriends the Zenetes Abd El Moumen. In the company of the latter that Ibn Toumert of Almohad (al-Muwahidn''of''), the Unitarians. It was at Tinmel the heart of the very isolated valley N'fis he established his "capital". His sermons have become very considerable and openly proclaims his intention to gang up all the rebellious tribes of the mountains against the Almoravids. Its aura raises growing every day more concerns from the Almoravids who launch against him in 1121 a military expedition commissioned by the governor of Souss , Abu Bakr bin Muhammad Al-Lamtouni. Shipping is literally crushed. Following this setback, the ambitions faded in time but in 1127 (or 1129 ), a new shipment arrived in the foothills of High Atlas in the vicinity of Aghmat in hopes of striking a blow to country Hintata stronghold the doctrine of "unitary". But Abd El Moumen El Bashir and thwarted the plan and taking advantage of the element of surprise, they even managed to besiege punctually Marrakech , the capital Almoravid. However, weaknesses in the battle plain pushed to retreat in haste (El Bashir died). A few months later, in September 1130 , Ibn Toumert died.
Abd El Moumen succeeded at first secretly founder of the sect and privileged a political alliance with the tribes of the Atlas. To do this, he played not only its origins Zenetes but also what remained of an inner circle of his predecessor had founded. From 1140 , an intense campaign allows Almohads to curry favor with the oases of the south. Taza and Tetouan is the first major cities to fall. In favor of the death of Ali Ben Youssef in 1143 , he captured Melilla and Al-Hoceima , making the north of Morocco's real logistics base. The death of the dreaded Reverter in 1145 followed the same year that of Ben Ali Tachfin allows Almohads respective catches of Oran , in Tlemcen , to Oujda and Guercif. Then follows the long and tiring seat Fez which lasted a mere nine months during which Abd El Moumen to take charge personally of Meknes , Sal and Ceuta. The conquest of Morocco finally completed in March 1147 by decision of Marrakech , the capital of the now fallen empire Almoravids and the last king Ishaq bin Ali that day will be mercilessly killed. To celebrate this victory, Abd El Moumen he built the famous Koutoubia mosque on the ruins of the old Dar El Hajar.
Fairly unique, the first military efforts of Abd El Moumen now "inducted" turn to the east of the Maghreb , the threat of the Normans of Sicily led by Roger II (who took control of Djerba and Mahdia and threaten the prosperous Bejaia ) and cohorts Bedouin sent from Cairo by the sovereign Fatimids , furious Zirids and Hammadids escape their control. Operations launched proved largely successful because the Bedouin are completely crushed in Bejaia and Setif in 1152. In 1159 , a powerful land army rose from Sal , assisted by a fleet of seventy ships, forcing Norman to take refuge in Sfax and Tripoli. Thus the Almohad empire stretched it in the late 1150s to the Atlantic Ocean to the gates of Libya. In Andalusia the end of the Almoravids led the resurgence of Reinos of Taifa and renewed vigor of the Christians. In 1144 they even take control of Cordoba. To the west, Lisbon and Santarem are also taken. p: / / fr.org / wiki / Almeria "alt =" Almeria "class =" mw-redirect "> Almeria is also taken by the Aragonese for an entire decade. Back to the wall, the Taifa are forced to new call to the masters of the Maghreb. Thus, even before taking Marrakesh by the Almohad , Jerez and Cadiz are available to them. In the wake of the capture of Marrakech , expeditionary forces can conquer all of southern Peninsula ( Granada , Seville , Cordoba ...) then Badajoz. In 1157 , Almeria was resumed. Abd El Moumen will die eventually in 1163 in Sal. His son Abu Yaqub Yusuf was succeeded, first recognized in Seville and then to Marrakech. It will work until his death in 1184 to reign as a true " enlightened despot ", anxious to break the grip of religious orthodoxy imposed on the Maghreb. Under his leadership the arts flourish more fulfilled otherwise than under the previous dynasty .'s architecture in particular reached a golden age, resulting in the construction of the Giralda in Seville , freshly honored status Andalusian capital, and the Hassan Tower in Rabat (the minaret was never completed) and Koutoubia in Marrakech , all three are built on a model substantially equivalent. In other records, the palace of the Alhambra is built on the hills of Granada and the Agdal Gardens are planted in Marrakech (cf. Article Almoravid Art and Almohad ). Also under the Almohad lived as the brilliant philosopher Averroes (whose real name Ibn Rushd ) and Maimonides who will nevertheless go into exile in Cairo in order to practice their religion freely ( It was confession Hebrew). On the death of Abu Yaqub Yusuf , the Almoravids remained masters of the Balearic Islands are going to wear the sword where once raged the Normans. They rip Algiers , Miliana, Gafsa and Tripoli to the Almohad and subsidize Bedouin tribes of Ifriqiya which will go conduct raids across the Maghreb median and go down even into the oasis of the Draa. quelled by the militia of a vigilant governor Abu Yusfi, these Bedouin tribes will eventually be settled in Moroccan West in the old country bergouata where they contribute to the effort of Arabization Gharb plains and Chaouia. After the victory of Alarcos during which Alfonso VIII was defeated by the ruler Abu Yusuf Yaqub al- Mansur , past troublemakers Almoravids crashed in southern Tunisia. This is the golden age Almohad.
Muhammad an-Nasir succeeded his father in 1199. 16 July 1212 , his army of 200,000 men was routed by a coalition of nearly 220,000 Christians from France , of Aragon and Catalonia , of Leon and Castile. It's the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa that history will remember as the watershed event of the Reconquista. The authority of the Almohad empire will be sustainable on their weakened by the debacle, to the point that Muhammad an-Nasir relinquish his throne the following year, the yielding to his son. At 16, Yusuf al-Mustansir therefore accesses to the throne. Devoid of authority, he quickly sees the Maghreb median escape. This applies even in Andalusia where the Almohad governor of Murcia calls for a regency and crossed the strait to know. At Seville , Al-Mamoun is substantially the same. The Taifa reborn from the ashes and imposes the Malikism. In Marrakech the same sheikhs want to elect a new caliph, leaving no alternative to the young ruler that the leak for a while. His son, Abd al-Wahid al-Makhlu succeeded him in 1223. He died strangled the same year. The sheikhs of Marrakech will then proceed to the election of Abu Muhammad al-Adil. The Hafsids , named Abu al-Shaykh Muhammad ibn Abi Hafs, formerly vizier of Muhammad an-Nasir declared independence in 1226 , under the leadership of Abu Zakariya Yahya. The death of Abu Muhammad al-Adil mark the beginning of the interference of the Kingdom of Castile in Moroccan affairs. Ferdinand III of Castile support Abu al-Ala Idris al-Mamun while the Sheikhs support the son of Muhammad an-Nasir , Yahya al-Mutasim. This is the first who took the ascendancy for a time, managing to take Marrakech and slaughtering the sheikhs. He renounced the religious doctrine Almohad the benefit of Malikism and consented to pay the debt to build the church of Our Lady of Marrakech in 1230. The building was destroyed two years later. In 1233 , his son Abd al-Wahid al-Rashid said Marrakesh and drove to Fez Bani Mari future Merinids (they were paid to the city and its neighboring Taza tribute since 1216 ), to reunite Morocco. In Andalusia , Crdoba fell to Ferdinand III of Castile from 1236. Valencia will follow suit two years later and it was the turn of Seville in 1248. Meanwhile, Abu al-Hasan as-Said al-Mutadid succeed in restoring a semblance of unity over Morocco but accumulate failures face Merinids whose progress is irresistible on the northern Morocco. For thirty years, the Almohad survive, huddled on the plain of Haouz and paying tribute to their northern neighbors. In 1269 , Marrakech grave. In 1276 , it was the turn of Tinmel. A century and a half later, the loop Almohad is closed.
Morocco during the Crusades
The Almohad caliphate during the reign of Abu Yusuf Yaqub al-Mansur, establishes a strategic partnership with Egypt 's Sultan Saladin. The culmination of this relationship is the embassy in Abu Abderrahman ibn al Harith Moukid sent by Saladin to the Court of Marrakech. This mission is realized through the participation of the Moroccan fleet maritime operations against the Crusaders (the coasts of Middle East and Red Sea ). When taking Jerusalem by Saladin in 1187 , the establishment of Moroccans are increased ), on the eve of the defeat of Kairouan ( 1348 ) Unlike the two previous dynasties, the rise of Merinids not to put on the account of a personal approach associable to an individual but rather the collective affirmation of a tribe. The other break that mark the accession to power of Merinids leitmotif is the abandonment of the religious cleansing in favor of a conception of the conquest of power more classic, more in keeping with the tribal identity of the protagonists. The tribe is a tribe Zenata whose origins are from of Wassini . Still, the Beni Merin (or Bani Mari) are throughout the twelfth century the archetype of a tribal Berber lambda nomad between the basin of the Upper Moulouya west (between Guercif and Missour ) Tell and Algeria , south of Sidi Bel Abbes in the east. The first occurrence of the tribe of Beni Merin in the historiography Moroccan coincides with their participation as a group at the Battle of Alarcos ( 1196 ), a battle eventually won by the camp Almohad. It was then that illustrated Abd al-Haqq considered the true founder of the Marinids. Back home, the tribe falls in relative anonymity until a crushing defeat Almohad of Las Navas de Tolosa after which troops Merinids will undo 10 000 soldiers Almohads. Following this success, the Merinids settle temporarily in the Rif , supported by Miknassas settled north of Taza. From 1216 , they were paid tribute by the cities of Fez and Taza. The Almohad anxious to restore its authority throughout its territory, launched numerous offensives against, often in vain. It was during one of these maneuvers dies Abd al-Haqq. His son Uthman bin Abd al-Haqq , succeeded him. From 1227 , all the tribes between the Bouregreg and Moulouya have pledged allegiance to Merinids. In 1240 , Uthman ibn Abd al-Haqq dies, murdered by his Christian slave. It was his brother Muhammad bin Abd al-Haqq who succeeded him, besieging with relative success Meknes. He died in 1244 , killed by Christian militia in the service of Almohads. In the middle of the decade in 1240 , troops Almohads are routed to Guercif. The Merinids then pass up the very strategic Gap Taza , a springboard that enabled them to undertake the siege of Fez in August 1248 and to consider taking the entire northern half of Morocco. But the southern half is no exception. Abu Yahya ibn Abd al-Haqq had previously succeeded plays traditional friendships with Beni Beni Merin Ouarain the Middle Atlas and other tribes Tafilalet oasis to control and divert trans-Saharan trade income from Marrakech to Fez , designated as capital Merinid. In 1258 , Abu Yusuf Yaqub bin Abd Al-Haqq succeeded his brother buried in the ancient Necropolis of Chella he had begun to rehabilitate. The beginning of his reign was marked by a struggle with his nephew who claimed the estate. The latter manages to take Sal. The situation at the mouth of Bouregreg benefits the Castile who take the city hostage for two weeks. The west of the Rif was also beset by numerous insurgencies Ghomari while Ceuta and Tangier were then in the hands of an independent sultan, a man named El Asefi. Soon the new king expressed his desire to get going quickly with Almohads entrenched in Haouz, east of the Doukkala and part of the Souss. A first such attempt ended in failure in 1262. The Almohad then pressed Abdalwadides to attack their rivals Merinids by surprise. Yghomracen famous ruler abdalwadide was defeated in 1268. The following year, Marrakesh was definitely taken. During the years that followed, he drove the Spanish out of all their establishments to Atlantic Tangier. In 1276 , Fez , the new capital of the kingdom sees increased to a new neighborhood, away from the old city, which combines such as the new royal palace and Mellah. It Fes El Jadid. Overall the city was under the age Merinid a second golden age after the one known by the Idrissids. After the pacification of the total territory and taking Sijilmassa to Abdalwadides , the Sultan crossed the strait and attempts to reconstruct the large Andalusian Muslim Almohad. Spanish companies of Merinids n'accouchrent were complex but that few concrete results. Following the siege of sherry , a peace treaty stipulating the return of numerous documents and works of art Andalusian (fell into Christian hands when taking Seville and Cordoba ) to Fez. In 1286 , Abu Yusuf Yaqub bin Abd Al-Haqq dies at Algeciras. He was buried in Chella. His son Abu Yaqub Yusuf , later told An-Nasr, succeeded him and is confronted from his induction to a hardening of the revolts in the Draa and Marrakech and a disavowal of some members of his family, sometimes allying themselves with Abdalwadides or rebel. He went Cadiz to Nasrid of Grenada as a goodwill but 6 years later, in 1291 , they allied with the Castilians they are vassals, undertake to expel definitively Merinids the Iberian Peninsula. After four months of siege, Tarifa is taken by the Castilians. But the eyes of Abu Yaqub Yusuf an-Nasr are riveted on instead Tlemcen , eternal capital of the Beni Merin rivals that are Abdalwadides. He heads Tlemcen at the head of an army composed of mercenaries since essentially cosmopolitan Christians and Kurds. The siege lasted eight years and will continue until the assassination of the sovereign hands of a eunuch in his harem, in 1307. Until the advent of Abu al-Hasan ibn Uthman in 1331 , the dynasty is marked by a form of decadence whose main symptoms are multiplying: In 1331 , therefore, Abu al-Hasan ibn Uthman succeeded his father, only months after receiving his forgiveness. Soon, the obsession with his older brothers to Tlemcen catches him. He began a new seat on the city that will prove futile. It crowds out those around him jealous, but the family knows how to show great dexterity in managing the tribal inclinations. Tlemcen finally falls in 1337. Abu al-Hasan ibn Uthman is crowned with glory. This victory opens the Maghreb median before disappearing into the breach opened in the direction of Ifriqiya , the sovereign wishes to avenge the death of his son Abu Malik, surprised by the Castilians after his success in Gibraltar in 1333. The battle of Tarifa , October 30 1340 ended in a heavy defeat will sign the definitive end of the ambitions Moroccan clay Spanish. Seven years later, the Sultan and his army managed to submit the Ifriqiya. The following year, however, the Merinids wipe a crushing defeat in Kairouan. The echo of the disappointment is great, so that is born and is spreading a wild rumor that the Abu Hassan died in combat. In Tlemcen , Abu Inan Faris is then inducted. It is his desire emanates construction of madrasas Inania Bou Fes. That it has also completed the construction of the Madrasa Bou Inania Meknes , initiated by his elder. The latter returned via a vain attempt to Algiers and then Sijilmassa. He was finally defeated and killed by the armies of his son on the shores of Umm Errabiaa. Abu Inan Faris , deeply grieved by the death, then try to assert its authority throughout the kingdom again weakened by the resurgence of inclinations insurgency. He surrounds himself with these purposes of Ibn Khaldun , a thinker of genius and a true pioneer of sociology today. His nephew, Master of Fez , is executed, but during his trip to Morocco is Tlemcen who raises. An intense campaign allows a renewed vigor Merinids but Abu Inan is strangled at the hands of one of his viziers 3 December 1358 , nine years after his accession to power. Lawlessness is at its peak. This is the first major decline of the dynasty. Each vizier tries to carry the pretender to the throne and the lower handle. Wealth patiently accumulated by previous sovereigns are looted. Claiming a first come Castile manages to escape for a time this diktat of viziers. His name is Muhammad bin Abu Ziyan Ya `qub simply called Muhammad bin Yaqub. Recognized and acclaimed in northern Morocco, he reigns from 1362 a kingdom where only the northern half (of the Tadla the southern foothills of the Rif ) remained loyal to the authority Merinid. Throughout his short reign, he will try to oust one by one the viziers were deemed cumbersome but the hands of one of these, the Grand Vizier Omar, he will die in 1366. Omar then extricate the son of the Abu Hasan , Abu Faris Abd al-Aziz bin Ali or simply Abd al Aziz. After the successful tour de force to evict many viziers including one that brought him to power, he manages to subdue the parallel power up to Marrakech (to say the Abu Fadel, defeated in 1368 ). He manages to assert its authority in Hintata countries, and in the Souss and Sijilmassa. In 1370 , Tlemcen , where the power was restored abdalwadide , falls into the hands of Merinids. But only two years later, he died. The kingdom is again split into two, the zaouias taking power in Marrakech. The plague is devastating. Ensuing 21 years of decline during which multiply the dynastic intrigues, the political upheavals of the various viziers , interference Nasrid and unsuccessful attempts to bang against military Tlemcen. During the two periods of decline, the practice of race grows, both in the north, near Tangiers and Ceuta , on the Atlantic coast. In 1399 , while Morocco is experiencing a more total anarchy, King Henry III of Castile weapon for a naval expedition to destroy the practice of the race from Tetouan. In fact, the city is not only sacked but also completely emptied of its population (half are deported in Castile ). In 1415 , it was the turn of Ceuta from falling into the hands of the ship John I , King of Portugal , also on a crusade against the run. Dynasty Merinid suffers a tragic decline. Uthman Abu Said ibn Ahmad said Abu Said succeeded Abu Amir Abd Allah in unclear circumstances. Prince taciturn, he turns back to Tlemcen. But the tide turned and Abu Malek, sovereign abdalwadide , full of hatred against the masters of Fez , manages to capture the city and impose a puppet ruler. The document concerning this period are very vague and contradictory. The fact is that Abu Muhammad Abd al-Haqq succeeds Abu Said when he was one year ( 1421 ). This accession to the throne of course called a regency. The viziers Wattassides prove unavoidable. In the year 711 , the governor sends his commander Musa Tariq ibn Ziyad at the conquest of Hispania, which is then weakened by division. His army and predominantly Berber because he feared a revolt of these newly conquered North Africa. They cross the Strait of Gibraltar which is also still the name of Arabic etymology (Jebel Tariq in Arabic, is the mountain of Tariq), numbering 12,000 soldiers. The Muslim attack is dazzling and unexpected, all the countries Visigothic fall one after another, in a few short months, the vast majority of the Iberian Peninsula is under the influence Muslim. Arab-Berber incursions continue still in the West, with raids and sieges in Gaul (Taking Narbonne in 719). But this is the end of the inexorable advance of the Muslim empire, the attack against the franc and internal revolts are wiping the army several defeats, including that of Toulouse in 721 and that of Poitiers in 732. In the year 759, the Arabs and Berbers are finally driven out of Gaul with the reconquest of Septimania by the Carolingians. Revolts Berbers who were a major cause of stopping the conquest Occitan still continue for more than fifteen years, along with wars of succession, reversals of power ... ect. This period of internal disorder represents a dark stain on the history of Al Andalus. As strange as it may seem, it is the chaos that has restored order in Al-Andalus. For more than 3628 km away, in Damascus , capital of the Islamic empire, a coup supported by the Abbasids against the Umayyads led to massacre them. But there remains one more: Abd al-Rahman I , nephew of the last Caliph and legitimate Emperor. He will flee into exile and death in Al-Andalus. Born of an Arab father and a Berber mother, he is the ideal man to reunite the Iberian peninsula, it is doing elsewhere in unifying the tribes and taking power. He founded the Emirate of Cordoba at the same time he proclaimed himself Emir and established his dynasty in 756. Gradually, the emirate which enjoys political stability finally prosper. At such a point that under the authority of the grand son of Abd al-Rahman 1: Abd al-Rahman III , Andalusia shuts the authority of Baghdad and transform the emirate into an independent Caliphate in 929. Then the apogee of Al-Andalus, the arts and humanities are an integral part of Andalucian culture, King Al-Hakam II (962-976) possess the largest library of the time. The great mosque of Cordoba is completed, making it one of the largest mosques in the world and especially one of the most beautiful and prestigious ... So peace has lasted more than two centuries ... In 976 Muslim Hispania, Al-Hakam II dies, leaving the sole heir a boy of 11 years. The Caliphate was taken over by Ibn Abi Amir, until the prince grows. Ibn Abi is nicknamed ( Almanzor , the victorious ) for his success against the Christian kingdoms to the north. But as he succeeds, he feels increasingly important and attempts to impose its own dynasty, provoking a civil war with the Legitimists. Political differences are such that the Andalus is fragmenting into twenty Taifa (Tiny parcels of land rivals). This was in 1031 and it will be fifty-five more years to see Al-Andalus reunited. Indeed in 1086 while the Reconquista advance irresistibly Andalusia fragmented, the Berber Almoravids were called to the rescue by the Taifa. This is both good and bad idea. Good because it helps curb lasting reconquista, bad because the Almoravids took power and dissolved the Taifa, annexing the lands of Al-Andalus to their empire. So for over 61 years, part of the Maghreb and al-Andalus, they become one. But in 1147, Al-Andalus dark again in a second Taifa period, after taking power by the Almohad North Africa. The new dynasty leave the Taifa away for a while to deal with North African territories, but in 1163, they started to turn to storm Al-Andalus and merge to form again a part of North Africa and al-Andalus. Almohades repel many attacks Christian, what is worrying them and unify them. A crusade is then launched against Al-Andalus Almohad. In 1212, Muslim armies suffered a serious defeat at the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa : This is the beginning of the end of Muslim Spain is now reduced to the realm Nazari in Granada. The loss of this battle is to collapse the Almohad empire, Al-Andalus is seen once again plunge into the Taifa period ... But things have changed, whereas previously Taifa survived thanks to strong position of Muslims Today the opposite is true, the Crusaders finally break through the defenses and take ownership of their Muslim territories. Also surprising is that AC is a militarily weak state, the Emirate of Granada, which survived more than two centuries to the Reconquista. This resistance probably is due by the Black Death in Europe, which diverts attention from the Christian kingdoms, but also by the fact that Merinids from the coasts of North Africa are actively supporting the small kingdom Nazari. From the early success of the Reconquista in the twelfth century Andalusian some had begun to retreat to Morocco, but the majority was forced to leave Spain, mainly in two stages: the fall of Granada in 1492, and in 1609 with the expulsion of the Moriscos. The proximity of the two territories and a willingness to return will result in the presence of a large concentration of Andalusia on the northern shores of Morocco. The Catholic Kings saw a danger in this concentration, located just 14 km from their shore, attacked the northern coast of Morocco, North African and captured the cities of Melilla and Ceuta to prevent any comeback attempt. lead of tribes from the valley of Draa , exasperated by the attacks Christian who revolt against the Berbers Wattassides and hunt for power. Saadiens, sometimes called Zaydanides . The diplomacy of Mohammed al-Shaikh earned him the enmity of the Sublime Porte tenacious. Indeed, in 1557 assassins in the pay of the Turkish pasha Hasan Corso behead the Sultan of Morocco and sent his head as a trophy in Istanbul , where Soliman can contemplate and his implacable enemy of the west. This murder, however, has no impact on the military front and even strengthens the foundation of the dynasty Saadian. The climax of this dynasty is under Ahmed al-Mansur Saadi (1578-1603) who, while maintaining independence Moroccan side in Istanbul, establishes a strong state with its military innovations inspired Ottoman (organization of regiments logistics and the Turkish model). After the conquest of the Songhai Empire in West Africa by General Yuder Pasha , the Mali is the Moroccan pashalic Timbuktu and Gao , the main supplier of gold Makhzen saadien which therefore has the means of his political prestige. Sultan al-Mansur establishes a strategic alliance with the England of Elizabeth I , against the Spain of Philip II. Ahmed al-Mansur is also developing a culture of sugarcane in the region including Chichaoua and in the Souss. Moroccan sugar exported to Europe becomes a major source of revenue for the Makhzen, like SSA products (especially ivory and gold from the valley of the River Niger , still compete with the gold from the Spanish America ). Marrakech recovered some of its glory of the Almohad period. The Sultans are building madrassas (the famous Ben Youssef Madrasah ) and mosques, rearrange the gardens (like the Menara ), but especially the fabulous El Badi Palace , made of precious materials, which contributes to the spread of Saadian capital and reputation of the magnificent dynasty. The cultural appeal speaks for Morocco to Europe with the writings of Agrippa d'Aubign but with William Shakespeare and Othello. Ahmed al-Mansur, who mastered the Italian (learned during his exile from youth to Algiers ), maintains a correspondence with Elizabeth I, Henry III and Henry IV , and shows strong interest in the latest techniques of ' West. Origins: The Alawi (Al Alaouiyoune) (not to be confused with the Alawi of Syria ), in power in Morocco since the seventeenth century, are from Tafilalet. According to legend the descendants of Mohamed Alawi Nefs Zakiya ("Pure Soul"), himself the son of Abdullah Al-Kamil, the son of Hassan Al-Muthanna, son of Hassan Sibt, eldest son of Ali Ibn Abi Talib , law and cousin of the Prophet of Islam, Muhammad. Mohamed Mahdi was proclaimed Nefs Zakya in 737 and killed in battle in 762. Eminent theologian, he left the reputation of a holy man, and lived during the reign of Caliph Al-Mansour. The Sharifs Alawi, say they are from year-Nakhil Yanbo, an oasis in the Arabian Peninsula, expected to come to Morocco by noble pilgrims Berber of Tafilalet the thirteenth century: Hassan Dakhil, claiming the 21st descendant of the Prophet Muhammad 17 th descendant of Nefs Zakya, then reportedly moved in 1266 to Sijilmassa. His fifth descendant, Moulay Cherif ben Mohamed, is the father of the first sultan of the Alawite dynasty, Cherif Moulay Rachid ben. History: Distant descendants of Ali, son of the prophet of Islam, Muhammad, the dynasty still govern the Kingdom of Morocco. Originating Tafilalet their founder is none other than Moulay Ali Cherif, who in 1631 reigned over his little hometown. After his untimely death in 1636, his successor decides to take the reins and continue what his father had started. Taking the lead, he will take power to Saadian strategically. His brother, Moulay Rachid , will assist in capturing the Rif and Fez. He became sultan in 1666 and crush the rebellion raging in Marrakech. A riding accident which is fatal throws his successor, Moulay Ismail at the head of the sultanate in 1672. This date is synonymous with authority, the new Sultan purge Loved severe repressions any form of opposition to his regime. This will finally enable the Empire Shereefian access to the power, security and credibility to its foreign players. Moulay Ismail form a large army composed mainly of slaves, black soldiers (the Abids, equivalent Moroccan Janissaries and Mamelukes ) and soldiers from military tribes Arab Oudayas like. With this force whose numbers reached 150,000 men , Moulay Ismail hunts Ottomans came from Algeria , the Spanish and English. Prisoners of war shall be detained in the notorious prison of Meknes , the capital, and their ransom will fund major renovations. Meanwhile, Morocco is turning to foreign powers and will establish diplomatic and trade relations with them. One of the most famous being the marriage application with one of the daughters of Louis XIV , the Princesse de Conti. The death of the famous Sultan lead to a new period of internal strife. Famine and plague are widespread among the population. September Moulay Ismail's son trying to gain recognition as sovereign of the Empire Shereefian, but are periodically reversed by Abids while anarchy wins the tribes, provinces and cities to separatist tendencies. Anarchy or Siba gaining importance and undermines the authority of a Makhzen weakened by dynastic quarrels. But in 1757 the rise of Mohammed III of Morocco to the throne, a deep believer whose main concern is the development of the sultanate, initiates the beginning of a new era. While Moulay Ismail was firm and uncompromising, Mohammed III leaned over to a more flexible policy. It reduces taxes and concludes peace with the Spaniards after resuming Mazagan Portuguese. Equally concerned about the economy, he signed commercial treaties with Denmark , the Sweden , the UK and the brand new United States. Morocco is also the first country to recognize the independence of the American Republic. Moulay Yazid bin Abdullah two years reign over the empire after the death of Muhammad III in 1790. His successors suffer the European expansionist policy, and thereby, participate with the Algerians in their war against France ( Battle of Isly and defeat in 1844 , and Hispano-Moroccan War of 1860 ). These tensions with Western powers will continue for more than thirty years. And Morocco, playing skillfully rivalries Foreign somehow succeed in preserving its independence, at least until the reign of Hassan I. In 1906 , the Algeciras Conference will place under international control and Morocco to France will give special rights . These rights are still challenged by the Germany of Wilhelm II , who covets the empire and clashes with Shereefian appetites French (Moroccan crises of Tangiers and Agadir coup in 1905 and 1911). In 1912 , after tough negotiations between Berlin and Paris, the country became a Spanish protectorate in North and South, while the center back to France. In the system of a protectorate, the sultan and the traditional Makhzen are maintained, but the real power belongs to the resident general who represents the power of guardianship (French to Rabat , Spanish Tetouan ). The city of Tangier is an international zone. This system is challenged by the nationalist movement from the years 1930 and especially after the Second World War. The Morocco gained its formal independence in 1956. The country returned Kingdom faces therefore to issues of political, economic and social effect it must bear its new economy and overcome the difficulties due to independence and is also opposed to Algeria during an armed conflict in 1963 ( War of the Sands ). Two years earlier, Mohammed V died, leaving the throne to his son Hassan II. The country is marked in 1965 by the riots in Casablanca and switch in emergency rule until 1970. The two years that follow will be marked by two military coups aborted, after which the constitution is amended. In November 1975, all political parties join forces to the sovereign in its proposed Green March. Over time, the United returns to political stability. During the last two decades of the twentieth century , a succession of years of drought brings an economic and social crisis. King Hassan II died in July 1999. It will be succeeded by his son, Mohammed VI , the current monarch. Morocco is characterized by great diversity of landscapes. The explanation for this is, like what can be observed in Algeria too, the presence of the chain of Atlas , which acts as a barrier and filter change. Morocco has two mountain ranges: the Atlas , divided into the Middle Atlas to the north, the High Atlas in the center and Anti-Atlas to the south and the Rif (Rif western and eastern), mountainous part of the system Betic Cordilleras and facing the Mediterranean with a European climate. The highlight of Morocco (and Africa North) is the Jebel Toubkal , which rises to 4167 m. As for the Rif , it culminates at 2450 m with the Jebel Tidirhine. Between the Atlantic Ocean and the Atlas , a constellation of Plains relatively high fertility is what is sometimes referred to as "useful Morocco". Moroccan plains are of two types: the coastal plains on the one hand, and the inland plains on the other. The coastal plains are Zaer (region of Rabat - Rommani ), the Gharb (region of Kenitra ), the Chaouia (region of Casablanca ), the Doukkala ( El Jadida and Safi ) and Souss (hybrid). The interior plains for their benefit climatic barriers that constitute the Atlas and the Rif and regulate some rainfall because of its European climate. These plains are threefold: the Haouz (region of Marrakech ), the Tadla (region of Beni Mellal ) and Sass (region of Meknes and Fez ) extending through the gap of Taza through the valley of Wadi Inaouen. South and east of the chain of Atlas , the omnipresence of the desert and poverty of the land allow only sparse human occupation. To the east, the population more readily organized around wadis (rivers periodically dried and partially) as the Draa and Ziz while in the south or even in the far east of Morocco, the oases are really like Sahara ( Guelmim , Smara , Figuig ...). To the east and southeast, Morocco is bordered by the Algeria. To the north, Morocco is bordered by the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla - cities claimed by Morocco. The boundaries of eastern Morocco have been imposed by France during the colonial period. During the war of Algeria , the latter thought conserve Southern Territories Algeria, before handing them over to Algeria during the negotiations in Evian in 1962. We know today that the GPRA had authorized France to conduct near Bechar and until 1967 for military activities remained secret. : The climate in Morocco can be divided into seven sub-zones, determined by the different influences that the country suffers: influences Ocean , Mediterranean , mountain , continental and Saharan. Morocco has sixteen regions, each having headed by a wali , and a Regional Council, representing the "lifeblood" of the region. These regions have the status of local government . Section 101 of the Constitution states: "They Alaoui and ancestor Reggada Cities of Western Sahara controlled by Morocco ( southern provinces ) : Morocco is the fifth economic power of Africa. It is the second largest economy Maghreb after Algeria. The growth rate of Morocco was in 2008 approximately 6.5%. (*) Estimated data (1) World Bank DEPF . The most typical example in this regard is that of call centers. One can also evoke such aircraft. Morocco has always taken advantage of its seafront double. However, construction of the port of Tangiers Med in 2004 was undoubtedly a turning point in terms of maritime policy. Built between the city of Tangier and the enclave Spanish of Ceuta , at the mouth of the Oued Rmel , the port is located 15 km from the Spanish mainland. In 2012 the port complex should be able to handle 8 million containers , which would make him the largest port in Africa in terms of freight transport. The zone should include the adjacent house the new factory Renault. Despite recent cons-performance resulting from the financial crisis of 2008 , the Casablanca Stock Exchange consolidates its status as the second stock exchange African behind that of Johannesburg , and before that of Cairo. The rate of unemployment in Morocco is mainly estimated, it varies between 9% according to official figures ( HCP , Ministry of Labour) and 15% according to independent surveys. The absence of a premium of unemployment and an organization collecting the number of unemployed on a particular date does not allow enumeration of the number of unemployed workforce. Should we also specify that the data provided by official sources does not take into account the notion of underemployment that affects a significant percentage of workers in sectors of agriculture , the fishing marine, construction, public works and the tourism , people who do not work on a permanent and stable. The so-called unstructured economy evading taxation prevents hundreds of thousands of workers to have their social security and pension system as is the case of workers in small family businesses or personal guards cars, housekeepers, janitors, street vendors, sidewalk vendors, illegal trade and contraband cigarettes, begging, smuggling ...). It is also the work of thousands of children under 15 engaged in workshops in the areas of crafts, carpentry, mechanics, paint, food and so on. Also, any number of "maids" pushed by their poor families to work in households with less than 500 dirhams (50 euros) per month, exploited 24/24 and 7 / 7 and deprived of any social protection. NSSF ( National Social Security Fund ) only covers 3.5 million members on a work force of about 12 million people of working age. The most surprising figure is the sales market hashish which is valued at 10 billion euros. Also, 88% of the outstanding kif Europe comes from Morocco and it would be the largest exporter of drugs in the world in the region of Rif , a mountainous area in northern Morocco, the gateway to Europe. Hemp is grown in the Rif from the seventh century, is more than a millennium . Kif is a mixture of cannabis and tobacco brown finely chopped, and typically smoked with a long pipe called small focus sibs. Morocco hosted in 2008 a total of 8 million tourists, up 13% over the previous year, generating some 115 billion dirhams in revenue (+16%) by the Moroccan Ministry of Tourism released as above, statistics and official figures for 2008 : The main tourism indicators in 2008: And here's accommodation capacity ranked (in terms of beds) in 2008: Morocco had in 2007 68 550 kilometers of roads of which 69% were paved. The road network is generally regarded as satisfactory and one of the best in Africa. The NRRP2 (National Rural Road) is considering building 15,500 kilometers of rural roads further on the horizon in 2015 to increase the rate of opening up areas of 54% to 80% on the same date . However, 22% of localities remain unreachable by car and 35% are difficult to access . The consolidation of the highway network is considered a national priority. With 1 145 km open to traffic, it is already one of the densest in Africa. By the year 2015 , it should have 1804 miles and serve the towns of Taza and Oujda (in 2011 ), respectively 18 and 7th cities in terms of population. The development of road infrastructure in Morocco would also require strengthening the network of expressways , attractive alternatives to highways as less costly. The network currently comprises 631 km of track in service should be expanded to over 1,400 km by 2015 , thereby linking cities such as Tiznit , Al Hoceima , Ouarzazate (via Taroudant on the horizon 2015 ). Conversely, the railway in Morocco has long suffered a lack of voluntarism on the part of government. The ONCF , public company responsible for operating the rail network Moroccan seems to have resumed its destiny. Existing infrastructure (2 120 km in total including 1,022 km of electrified line and 600 km double track, the remainder being simple) should be increased by two lines of TGV : These lines are funded 30% by the Moroccan State and 50% by appropriations French In addition to these development projects, the ONCF has completed the purchase of new trains and plans to connect cities such as Nador and Beni Mellal. The Moroccan airline has experienced a boom. Morocco is now 25 airports and airport Mohammed V was in 2008 the 3rd African airport in terms of traffic. International traffic surged in 2007 to over 17%, which represented one of the highest growth at international level. The Airline National, the Royal Air Morocco is currently the second Airline Africa behind South African Airways. On the sidelines of the Group Royal Air Morocco , Morocco has three airlines that are private Jet4you (owned 66% of Royal Air Morocco and 34% group TUI ), Air Arabia Morocco (formerly Regional Airlines ). In 2009 the mobile phone far outweighs the fixed phone is reserved to a minority (9.7%). The number of Internet subscribers is still small but significant increase (+44% in 2008) : At end-June 2010: Access to drinking water and to a lesser extent, the sanitation (excreta disposal) has increased significantly since 1990. The drinking water is delegated to private operators in several countries including cities knew Casablanca , Mohammedia , Rabat , Sal , Temara , Bouznika , Tangier , Tetouan ... while it is still provided by municipal utilities in 13 other cities and by the National Drinking Water (ONEP) in 500 municipalities and rural intermediaries. The ONEP also produces water that is sold to authorities and private operators as well as sanitation in sixty municipalities. Morocco is a constitutional monarchy. Its constitution is proclaimed in December 1962 by Hassan II. It was amended and expanded to 4 times in 1970 , 1972 , 1992 and 1996 , increasing the powers of parliament while they are still limited in some areas. Indeed, the most power is concentrated in the hands of the king , the hereditary monarch, who appoints the prime minister taking into account the majority of parliament. Currently, the executive power is exercised by the government. The legislature, bicameral , is exercised by the House of Representatives consists of 325 members elected every five years by universal suffrage, and the Chamber of Advisors which includes 270 members renewed by thirds every three years. Justice is the third power. This power rapidly changing in recent years through the creation of new specialized courts (administrative courts, commercial courts). Since coming to the throne of Mohammed VI , reforms on the Status of Women have been completed. Following the struggles of the women's movement and the democratic movement and despite the fierce resistance of the fundamentalist movement and the Conservatives. King Mohammed VI has played a role of arbitrator in his capacity as commander of the faithful who conferred on him by the Moroccan Constitution. He formed an advisory committee that Royal was responsible for responding to the expectations of women activists who denounced the injustices endured by Moroccan women. After consultations with all concerned parties that lasted nearly three months, the king who ruled in presenting before Parliament on 10 October 2003 , the new draft family code, called Moudawana , which was discussed, amended and unanimously adopted by all forces represented in parliament in January 2004. The new family code is based on equality between the sexes, and abolished the supervision exercised over women. The concept of " family head "was abolished and replaced by co-responsibility between spouses. The marriage of a young woman was only possible in the presence of his father as guardian, only girls who lost their father could marry without supervision: now, a woman may marry freely that his father is living or deceased. The legal age of marriage for the young woman has been revised upwards: it is now eighteen years for girls and boys rather than fifteen years ago for girls. Finally, and this represents a major breakthrough, a married woman has the right to obtain a divorce from her husband without being forced, as was previously the case to provide evidence and testimony to justify the reasons for his request. In 2006 a new chapter added to the Family Code makes it possible for mothers to transmit Moroccan Moroccan nationality ipso facto and automatically to their children born of foreign father, as part of a marriage. The marriage of Moroccan Muslim husband is legal with a Muslim and a Moroccan Muslim can marry a non-Muslim unless his religion is monotheistic. Moroccans of Jewish faith are subject to the rules of Hebrew Moroccan personal status . In 2007, the country has a rate of illiteracy at the national level of 45.3% http://hdrstats.undp.org/2008/countries/country_fact_sheets/cty_fs_MAR.html higher among women and rural areas. The participation rate rises to 86.9% for men against 47.9% in women . Morocco is a founding member: At the regional level, Morocco is also a member of the Arab Maghreb Union , which brings together in a single regional entity's country of North Africa as it is traditionally understood (Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia ) and the Libya and Mauritania. Founded in Marrakech in 1989 , the Arab Maghreb Union had to revise over the years to lower its ambitions in light of the persistent strife between the two main regional powers, namely the Kingdom of Morocco and Algeria. The current headquarters of the organization is in Rabat. Morocco is also a member of the Union for the Mediterranean based in Paris July 13 2008. The Kingdom has also indicated initially that it intended to house the headquarters of the UPM. Rabat (or Tangiers for some) so by competing alongside Valletta , Marseille , Barcelona and Tunis. Morocco is also part of various international organizations including the African Development Bank , the United Nations , the International Organization of la Francophonie , the World Health Organization , the World Trade Organization and ties closely with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and the NATO The human development index of Morocco in 2008 (.706, category "medium") the class to the 127 th place. Standard & Poor's (S & P) has revised upwards the financial rating of Morocco by raising the grade of its debt from BB to BB + in 2005 and since March 23, 2010, Standard & Poor's upgraded the rating of Morocco's sovereign credit the long-term debt in foreign currency 'BB +' to 'BBB-' and local currency debt to long-term "BBB" from "BBB +" with stable outlook. In Morocco and assigning a grade of " investment grade " , while Fitch Ratings has assigned April 19, 2007 the investment grade in the Kingdom of Morocco. According to this agency, the rating in Morocco reflects the remarkable progress both politically, economically and socially in recent years, which resulted in significant improvements in living standards. Territorial disputes between Morocco and two of his neighbors, the Algeria and Spain , are numerous and are the direct result of the Franco-Spanish colonization. Morocco claims and control the majority of Western Sahara , but sovereignty over this territory is not recognized internationally. He faces a separatist movement, the Polisario Front , supported by Algeria. Some countries support Morocco's claims, other than the Polisario (Marxist separatist movement , . Morocco claims the Spanish or any position of soberana Plazas on its northern coast: Ceuta , Melilla , Chafarinas islands , the island Alboran and the Leila islet . The border between Algeria and Morocco, whose route was set in 1972 by an agreement (ratified in 1992 by Morocco only) remains a subject of dispute . Morocco is confronted with terrorism for years, despite an increased presence of authorities in the field of counter-terrorism: one of the main Islamist cells is the Moroccan Islamic Fighting Group (GICM). The attacks of 16 May 2003 in Casablanca killed 45 people and a hundred wounded. End December 2006 , two Moroccan Islamists sentenced to death by the court anti-terrorist Sale for "preparation of terrorist acts in Morocco." In 2007 , several suicide bombings affect Casablanca , in a cyber cafe on March 11 at Sidi Moumen and three others in the neighborhood of El Farah April 10 , two policemen were injured in the second explosion, succumbed to his injuries when transferred to the hospital, the other had less severe injuries and survived . Saturday 14 April 2007 , a terrorist detonated himself in front of the American Language Center, while another blew himself up after a few seconds to a hundred yards away. These explosions were no fatalities but the bombers themselves. The police succeeded in the day to stop the terrorist cell leader and his deputy, and was able to locate their laboratory where they were making explosives . The attacks were perpetrated in 2007 with very low explosive power. No link between these attacks and the international Islamic terrorism could not be established with reasonable certainty, unlike the 2003 bombings. Morocco has about 31 million people. The country has experienced throughout the twentieth century a strong population growth has increased by 6 its population since 1912. During the same period the proportion of urban residents has increased steadily reaching 55% in 2005: the country now has some thirty cities over 100,000 inhabitants (although none existed a century ago, three cities have more than one million inhabitants: Casablanca, Fez and Rabat-Sal . Most Moroccans are Berber and Muslim Sunni Maliki rite. Recent studies show however that if the majority are ethnic Moroccans Amazigh , the Berbers are now estimated at about 40% of the population. The first Muslim conquests in Morocco date from the seventh century but the installation of Arab tribes became especially from the tenth century. The comparison of the demographic Arab and Berber populations already present, suggesting that this phenomenon was mainly linguisto-cultural with the Arabization and Islamization . This explains the majority of Arabic-speaking countries. In addition, a second injection of Arabic-speaking peoples became the fifteenth century with the expulsion of the Moriscos of Andalusia and Spain, which amplified the Arabization process particularly in the north. Finally the slave trade began in the eighth century , ended with no settlement in the twentieth century and contributed in no small way . Most foreigners living in Morocco are French and Spanish , the main vector of development of Morocco. More and more European retirees come to live in Morocco, especially Marrakech. Some statistics on the demographics of Morocco: The most represented religion is the Islam , which comprises 98.7% of believers. The Judaism and Christianity (the latter is mainly represented by the European residents) follow with respectively 0.2% and 1.1% . Morocco is also the Arab country with the most Jews, there were approximately 280 000 today approximately one million Jews of Moroccan origin and native living in Israel. The official language of Morocco is the Arab , or literary Arabic. The Arabic dialect of Morocco is the Darija or Moroccan Arabic , language of Moroccan Arabic (about 60% of the population ), commonly spoken in the street and everyday life and also practiced by the Berbers in their great majority. About 40% of the population speaks Berber or Tamazight. In Morocco, Berber has three dialects , the Rif to the north, chleuh or tachelhit south and Tamazight short (or Braber ) in the center of the country . Tamazight is not recognized as an official language, however, 17 October 2001 King Mohammed VI established the Royal Institute of Amazigh Culture ( IRCAM ) , governed by the Dahir No. 1-01-299 and Royal which aims to give notice "on measures to safeguard and promote the Amazigh language and culture in all its forms and expressions." The French , although it is not an official language, is the working language of many Moroccan ministries and is the unofficial language of fields such as economics, higher education science and technology, among others. It is taught in primary schools, colleges and high schools in all universities and colleges. In addition, a new phenomenon seems to take shape, namely that many Moroccan urban raise their children in French to give them an asset to their lives. The Spanish still practiced in the north and the Sahara, because of the former Spanish presence. The number of English in Morocco is still low, but learning English is increasingly preferred by young Moroccans in addition to Italian and German. School is compulsory in Morocco for children under fifteen years. Through the efforts of the state, many mountain and country folk go to school. The illiteracy rate in the country is 37%. There are fourteen public universities in Morocco including 230 000 students and two universities Pay ( Alakhawayn and International University of Rabat ). Morocco is also a great number of large schools such as the Mohammadia Engineering School , the National Institute of Statistics and Applied Economics , the National School of Mineral Industry , the School Hassania Public Works , the ' ISCAE the ENCG .... Morocco has had a large Algerian community in particular after waves of exile dating from the colonial period (these waves also concern Tunisia). Morocco hosts, also in 2007 a French expatriate community of around 120 644 individuals . Finally, the various protocols of cultural agreements signed with many African countries, including proposals for the granting of scholarships have enabled Morocco to host in 2007 a community of 9500 students SSA (figure representing 70% of the entire foreign student community) . The different bodies of authority with powers of police are the National Security Branch (DGSN - city police to civilian status), the Royal Gendarmerie (rural police force with military status), the auxiliary forces (National Guard and Territorial - Rural urban frontier - with military status), the DAG Affairs Directorate General (prefectural police and provincial and territorial with administrative control by moqqademns, sheikhs, bullies, prefects, walis), the Customs (tax police), the civil protection Moroccan (fire protection), the Brigade of Water Affairs and Forestry (Water Affairs and Forestry Police). In these bodies, only the civil protection, DAG, and the Brigade of water forests are not armed. Some bodies are governed as paramilitaries (Royal Canadian Mounted Police, auxiliary forces, civil protection). The function of authority is attributed to all these different bodies. The police function is attributed to the DGSN, the RCMP, the FA and DAG regard to military defense, it is assigned to the FAR, the FA and the Force. The Moroccan armed consist of: 301 000 250 000 professional soldiers and military reservists, a total of about 550,000 soldiers. According to these figures, the number of soldiers the Moroccan army is the second African army behind the Egyptian army, and the 21 th Army in the world (behind France). The Royal Armed Forces (FAR) are a set of 5 weapons depending on the administration of national defense. The king of Morocco has the title of "Supreme Leader and Chief of General Staff of the Royal Armed Forces." Royal Armed Forces were created March 14, 1956, at the end of the Protectorate regime (the Royal Navy was only founded in 1960 , , Marital status does not allow Moroccan many names that Moroccan parents want to give their children for reasons of "rupture with the Moroccan identity" . While this measure concerned mainly Berber names, it "is increasingly extended to names of Arab origin, related to Islam or sometimes inspired by film celebrities . " The region is famous for its carpets campaign, baskets and various other items of great value. The modern carpet weaving and embroidery are very successful especially in the complex craft. Other objects of much use are manufactured by local artisans such as tagines, jars, etc.. Kaftans from Morocco are from Moorish Andalusia (Al Andalus), where the Arab-Muslim elite of the Umayyad Empire (which Zyriab, the father of Arab-Andalusian music) made from the ninth century caftans borrowed Persians. Between the ninth and the fifteenth century, the Arab-Andalusian Emirates (comprised of peoples of various origins) have gradually given their caftans keys civilization. Recall that the Moorish Andalusia has built in opposition or competition vis--vis the Empire Ommeyyade Damascus as the Empire Idrisid Fez (Umayyad branch of Morocco) vis--vis the Empire Abbasid Baghdad. This difference will result between the other outfits. In view of various existing archives, it is clear that this tradition is well recorded in ancient equestrian heritage of Morocco. In Morocco, a country long remained a strong agricultural and tribal (even after independence in 1956 the country), this demonstration will continue a tradition by becoming a tribal, rural and religious warrior tribes of rural associations, with the active collaboration of the population, Moussem (festival of sowing, harvesting) and the feast of a saint of the tribe (or recognized by the tribe) and that an annual basis and secular. The feast of Saints was established in the fifteenth century by Merinids The first newspaper to appear in Morocco was a weekly English-language called "Maghreb al Aqsa" in 1877. Such publications were generally not available in the Moroccan cities until 1908. During the French protectorate , in 1920, began the development of French publications as "The Echo of Morocco" and "La Vigie Marocaine". It was followed by the launch of a media group called Mas, who published "Farmhouse" and the daily "Le Petit Moroccan" and "The Echo of Morocco, although they continued to apply mainly to foreigners. Then the nationalists such as Moroccan Mohamed Hassan El Ouazzani began their own publications. In 1933, he founded "The action of the people", a French-language weekly. Later, Abdelkhalek Torres and Mohamed Bennouna, in Tetouan , published in Arabic, respectively, two publications: "Al Salam" and " Al-Hayat. " These papers gave the nationalists a platform to express their demands independence vis--vis France and of Spain. More and more foreign newspapers were published in Morocco. Later, Morocco edited a press code on 15 November 1958 . The Moroccan government has many means such as radio and audiovisual Moroccan television. The Moroccan news agency, Maghreb Arabe Presse and an Arabic daily Al-Anbaa are the official organs of government. Semi-official bodies are: the daily Assahra Al Maghribia, the French language daily Le Matin du Sahara and the Maghreb. Moroccans have at their disposal about 2000 local and foreign publications. The traditional Moroccan cuisine is extremely rich and varied, it has a prominent place in the international ranking. The couscous and tajine , are considered well-known traditional dishes common in this region. They are prepared from mutton or fish and assorted vegetables. During the holidays, we eat other Moroccan dishes and more refined: the pastillas (pronounced bastel), the meat tajine with honey, prunes and almonds, barbecue ... The music in Morocco is very diverse and consists of four large groups or families of music: music Berber (Amazigh), the African music , international music, music of southern Hassani and Arabic music. Each group is itself made up of sub-groups. And Arabic music in Morocco is she made of modern Arabic music influenced by Arabic music of contemporary Arab world (Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, etc..) Arabic music local (popular) for each region Morocco, usually sung in Arabic dialect of each region, the "classical" music Arabo-Andalusian , itself composed of sub-groups of Fez , Rabat , Tetouan , Oujda (gharnati) and the cradle of the AEF is the Music source of multiple songs as Reggada, Allawi is also the nari.Il Rai region of Oujda finding its source near the border with Algeria (Oran, Tlemcen, Saida). Music Amazigh (Berber) is also divided into sub-groups, generally according to the various regions and spoken: Amazigh tachelhite, tarifite, etc.. This music is also divided into "modern" and "traditional." Afro-Moroccan known as the Gnawa is unique to the region of Marrakech , Essaouira and the south of Morocco, the lyrics are either in Arabic, Amazigh or mixed African-Arab. Finally there is a new generation of young people, creating music that synthesizes the spirit Moroccan influences from around the world (blues, rock, metal, reggae, rap marocain , etc..). One of the most important events of this underground scene, is the Boulevard of Young Musicians , which takes place every year in Casablanca and Moroccan youth rallies in a single cultural event. Moroccan cinema includes both films, television and film productions produced in Morocco. In contrast to other cinemas of Europe or North Africa , the Moroccan state has long left the cinema found itself the means necessary for its survival and development nationally and internationally, creating an imbalance between commercial cinema ( often poor) and aestheticized cinema audience to essentially elitist. The French Protectorate of Morocco (1912-1956) had established a censorship board that survived to independence. This regulatory body has held up to the seventies mainly to control the distribution of foreign films because of domestic production is still low compared to neighboring French-speaking countries [91]. Thus, Morocco has left the field open to other competitors that cinemas are easily affirmed with the Moroccan public and now he must deal with several years of delay. It is the same for other artistic fields such as music for example. Recently, the country's cultural policy has changed (in particular under the impetus of the International Film Festival of Marrakech) and Morocco has just acquired a brand-new film industry (see below). To date, Moroccan cinema is progressing, and many prospects look promising; Moroccan cinema is increasingly selected and / or winning at festivals Arab, African and Western, which encourages more and more young people to embarking on a career in the 7 th Art (see below challenges and strengths of Moroccan cinema ). This progress is also a reference to African cinema moribund. Morocco is illustrated in many sports at the continental and global levels and is the locomotive of the development of sport in Africa and the Arab world. For example, increasing to five the number of African countries to represent the African in world football through the good services that Morocco has achieved over the past 3 decades in football and in other international competitions such that the athletic , the PWC , the taekwondo , the Thai boxing , etc.. Some sports teams have scored the Moroccan sports: Said Aouita , Moroccan athlete, former world record holder of 1500 m, 2000 m, 3000 m and 5000 m. Nawal El Moutawakel , 1st woman Arab, African and Muslim woman to win a gold medal at the Olympics. Hicham El Guerrouj , double Olympic champion and four times world champion. Hicham Arazi , Moroccan tennis player, called the peon short. Younes El Aynaoui , Morocco tennis player, ranked 14 th globally in 2003. Badr Hari , Moroccan kickboxer in K-1. Marouane Chamakh , Moroccan footballer for Arsenal. The mausoleum of Mohammed V The Hassan II mosque Towers Twin Center in Casablanca The Kasbah Oudaa La Tour Hassan Bab Bou Jeloud in Fez Royal Palace at Ttouan Porte d'Anfa in Casablanca The Menara Park of the Arab League in Casablanca The mosque Koutoubia Valley Imlil Streets of Asilah Streets of Chefchaouen Landscape near Ouarzazate The Ouzoud Medina of El Jadida Marina salt Morocco has for codes: 
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In 1492 , seven centuries after the Muslim conquest of the Iberian Peninsula , the last Muslim kingdom in Spain, Grenade_ (Spain) "title =" Granada (Spain) "> Granada, was conquered by the Catholic Kings. 
Alawite Dynasty
Geography
Physical Geography
Land borders
Climate
Environment
Human Geography
Subdivisions
Note: Provinces marked 06, 07 and 11 are partially or wholly located in Western Sahara City Miscellaneous Population (2004) Casablanca 3 111 997 Rabat-Sale 1 622 860 Fez 946 815 Meknes 876 152 Marrakech 823 154 Tangier 669 685 Agadir 742 130 Oujda 614 053 Kenitra 581 543 Tetouan 437 773 Safi 394 856 Mohammedia 296 815 Laayoune 290 148 Beni Mellal 232 691 Khouribga 210 082 El Jadida 203 863 Taza 196 210 Nador 195 508 Settat 144 188 Ksar el-Kebir 114 439 Larache 113 142 Khemisset 110 751 Guelmim 123 149 Berrechid 102 767 Berkane 92 000 Dakhla 82 832 Taourirt 80 024 Essaouira 72 911 Ouarzazate 78 481 Economy
Indicator In 2006 In 2007 In 2008 In 2009 Gross Domestic Product in billions of U.S. dollars 65,64 74,4 1 85.2 1 91.4 1 GDP growth (constant prices) 7.8% 2.7% 6.5% * 5.5% * GDP per capita in U.S. dollars 2151 * 2422 * 2901 * 2.868 Inflation rate 3.3% 2% 3.9% * 4.5% * Sources: IMF - World Economic Outlook Database GDP by region
Rank Regions The share of total GDP Regionalized GDP (billion ) / equivalent 1 Casablanca 18.8% 16,709 
Bahrain 2 Sous-Massa-Draa 12.2% 10.843 
Senegal 3 Rabat-Sal-Zemmour-Zar 9.8% 8.710 png "width =" 20 "height =" 13 "class =" thumbborder "/> Cambodia 4 Marrakech-Tensift-Al Haouz 8.2% 7.288 
Macedonia 5 Tangier-Tetouan 7.4% 6.577 
Mali 6 The Oriental 7.1% 6.310 
Malta 7 Gharb-Chrarda-Beni Hssen 6.9% 6.132 
Haiti 8 Doukhala-Abda 5.4% 4.799 
Nicaragua 9 Chaouia-Ouardigha 5.2% 4.621 
Guinea 10 Meknes-Tafilalet 4.9% 4.355 
Moldova 11 Fez-Boulemane 4.2% 3.732 
Mongolia 12 Tadla-Azilal 4.2% 3.732 
Tajikistan 13 Southern Provinces 3.0% 2.666 
Mauritania 14 Taza-Al Hoceima-Taounate 2.7% 2.399 
Togo Unemployment
The employment situation has suffered during the years 1970-80 to internal and external events shocking: the increase in births of Moroccan families, the advent of oil shocks, declining parity of the Dirham, the plan structural adjustment ... many events that have affected the financial balances of the state and therefore the decline in investment spending and employment promotion. The social turmoil of the years 1981, 1984 and 1990 were not on the sidelines of this set of successive events.
The European view of its proximity, has been since the 1970 intake valve for social pressure and Moroccan population. Over 3 million Moroccans, 10% of the population live and work, is theoretically an average of 100,000 expatriates per year over a period of 30 years. The labor market in Morocco suffered a disorder in the distribution of income and lack of state control, the gap between the minimum wage guaranteed by the State (2000 Dirhams: 200 Euros) and the Minister ( 70000 MAD: 7000 Euros) is exorbitant, or 37 times the minimum wage. The trade union is legalized by the constitution, but does not play an important role in improving conditions for workers . Tourism
The city of Marrakech is the first tourist resort in Morocco. In 2008 the town had an accommodation capacity equivalent to 44 394 beds to Agadir with 28 605 beds and Casablanca with 12 762 beds. Morocco is currently the 2nd most popular tourist country in Africa. Transportation
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Challenges of the XXI century Morocco
Territorial integrity
Terrorism
Demography
Morocco is one of the first countries in Africa after Tunisia and Algeria to have begun its demographic transition : the total fertility rate fell from 7.2 to 2.5 between 1962 and 2004. . Year 1912 1936 1952 1960 1971 1982 1994 2004 Total population 5 7 9,1 11,6 15,4 20,4 26,1 29,9 Urban population 0,4 1,4 2,4 3,4 5,4 8,7 13,4 16,5 Percentage 8% 20% 26% 29% 35% 43% 51% 55% Source 2005 Religion
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Darija
Tamazight (Berber)
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Prehistory and Antiquity
The different Berber groups in Morocco and Maghreb
Morocco Foundation
Islamization of North Africa and Morocco
Muslim dynasties
History of Morocco
Moorish Spain and Morocco
Other references
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