Africa
Highlights - Essential Info - Itineraries - History
Morocco's early history begins with the Phoenicians who built up a number of trading settlements on the coast around 1100 BC, but they never ventured into the interior, the homelands of the Barbaroi or Berbers. During the 7th & 8th Centuries AD, Islam swept across much of the world including Morocco, and many of the Berber tribes were converted to the new religion. At this time Moulay Idriss, a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad, moved to the region and set up his Arab court which was to become the infant infrastructure of modern-day Morocco. His successors were known as Idrissids and so the first of the seven main sultanate dynasties was born. The Imperial city of Fes was founded and Moulay Idriss II furthered its development by establishing it as his capital and it remains the most complete medieval city of the Arab world today. Over the next seven hundred years, from around 800 to 1554, five of these dynasties ruled Morocco leaving a legacy of beautiful architecture, culture, education and endless military activity against the more decadent Spanish Muslims and Christians alike. Over expansion finally led to loss of power on each occasion. The Saadians then ruled for 150 years and this was an important time when the Portuguese were expelled from their coastal strongholds and powerfully crushed on the battlefield. Then the Alouites emerged and reigned for a similar period of time before their dynasty succumbed to the now common problems of squabbling for the throne amongst the ruling family. Morocco became divided and so began the European march on the country with France and Spain both becoming embroiled in its politics, particularly the French who were handed the reigns of power by the Treaty of Fes in 1912. The French tried to unify the peoples and developed the infrastructure of roads and railways, thus ensuring further colonisation. Nationalism inevitably surfaced as a result of France's control and despite all its efforts, full independence was granted in 1956. King Mohammed V inherited a country with a reasonable infrastructure, which his successor King Hassan II continued to develop, as well as bringing much needed political stability to the country. Morocco remains a peaceful nation with a rich cultural and historical legacy and is a joy to visit.
Many of these settlements grew into prosperous cities and despite the sacking of Carthage (now Tunis) by the Romans in 196 BC during the Punic Wars, this area was at the far limits of the Roman Empire. The Berbers continued to govern themselves for many years until direct imperial rule was imposed from Rome.
