History And Geography

History

Prior to Oqba bin Nafi bringing Islam to Morocco in 680 AD, the Berber inhabitants had faced a series of invadors: Romans, Byzantines and Vandals. The Arabs then came in and both the Arab conquerors and their new faith took a firm grip on all of North Africa. They started their conquest in Morocco, moving north. Over the next fifty years, with the help of the new Berber converts, the Arab army had taken over nearly all of Spain and had moved halfway into France.

However, it did take some time before Morocco became an established part of the Islamic Empire. In many secluded areas of the country, Berber tribes were either still not converted or had formed their individual religious mix of old habits and new influences.

The Idrissids set a significant step towards the typical Islam religion. Moulay Idriss, an immigrant from the family of the Prophet Mohammed, founded a court close to the Roman town of Volubilis. His son Moulay Idriss II established Fes and an empire, The Idrissids. It was to have power over most of Morocco for the coming centuries.

As soon as the Almoravids, the zealous protectors of the faith arrived from the Mauritanian desert, the Idrissian dynasty fell apart into warring principalities. In 1054, Youssef bin Tachfin led his soldiers to Ghana in a sacred war. Having subjugated Ghana, he turned north and in 1062 entered Marrakech. It did not take them too long to control the whole of Morocco and a huge part of Spain. The Almoravides lost control over North Africa as fast as they had gained it.

In 1145, Berber puritans, The Almohads, directed their troops down from the Atlas Mountains into the lush valley of Marrakech. The Almohads, commanded by Ibn Toumert, attacked the Almoravides and were very successful in their conquest. The third Sultan Yaqoub el Mansour had occupied all of North Africa and had defeated the Christians in Spain by 1195. The rule of Almohad ended in the initial half of the 13th century.

Other empires that followed were Merinids, the great constructors of Fes and Marrakech, the Wattasids, the Viziers, and the Saadians, who tried their best to expel the Christians from Morocco. However none of these dynasties gained power and success like the earlier ones. Morocco became isolated under their rule. During these years of relative weakness and remoteness, the Moroccan civilization and culture did find its form, for instance, the institution of the Makhzen (the governing power) was firmly established.

During 1665 the Alouites, the shereefs from the Tafilelt Oasis, gained control. To a great extent, their empire proved to be the most successful one. Morocco had a final feel of Imperial Grandeur under Moulay Ismail , the Louis XIV of Morocco. Through the long control of the Alaouits, the French colonization made a 50-year interception.

In 1912, the Moroccan Sultan Moualy Hafid was compelled to sign a pact by which he placed the throne under the territory of the French. In the subsequent fifty years, the French restructured Morocco quickly and all of the land was brought under central control, something that had been quite rare in the earlier centuries. The end of French rule in Morocco was accelerated by the brave conduct of Mohammed V. He got his countries' sovereignty and also made certain his rule could continue. His son Hassan II acquired control after his death in 1961. He endeavored to unite the roles of the progressive leader of the state, the traditional ruler and the religious head and he succeeded to a certain extent.

Geography

Morocco stretches across an area of around 446,550 sq km (172,413 sq mi) in the northwestern corner of the African continent. The Atlantic Ocean outlines the country's western perimeter. The north is surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea. The Algerian border lies to the east and southeast of Morocco while the Moroccan Sahara spreads far south of the country.

Morocco's diverse geography comprises of separate regions, over and above fertile river valleys, stunning sandy coasts, and wide expanses of desert.

The Rif Mountains, which run along the north coast, rise as high as 2,440m (8,000ft), and are parallel to the Mediterranean coast. The ports of Ceuta (Sebta) and Melilla on the north coast are controlled by Spain.

The Atlas Mountain range stretches from southwest to northeast between the Atlantic Ocean and the Rif Mountains. The highest peak in North Africa, Jebel Toubkal (4165m/13,665ft), situated in the Great Atlas, is a fantastic sight and is relatively easy to trek. The Middle Atlas mountain range starts from the south, rising to above 3000m (9850ft), and is filled with extensive forests, open pastureland and small lakes.

An arc of wide coastal plains spreads along the country's western coastline, bordered by the Rif and Atlas Mountain Range. A majority of the Moroccans live in this region.

Lowlands towards the south of the Atlas unite with the Sahara along the southeastern boundaries of the country.

Morocco has many waterways, of which the major ones are the Moulouya, which runs into the Mediterranean Sea, and the Sebou, which flows into the Atlantic.

Morocco is home to a rich variety of wildlife such as gazelles, wild boars, panthers, wild goats, baboons, foxes, rabbits, otters, and horned vipers. Moroccan wildlife reflects a blend of European and African species.

The precipitous regions of Morocco comprise of extensive forests of cork oak, evergreen oak, juniper, cedar, fir, and pine. With the exception of areas under agriculture, the plains are generally covered with scrub brush and alfa grass. On the plain of Sous, close to the southern border, is a huge forest of argan. Argan are thorny trees found mainly in Morocco.