Morocco’s First Contacts

Morocco has been called, “the land at the end of the world, or the land behind the beyond”.[1] This is due to its tactical location at the northwest corner of the African continent, and the resulting mix of cultures that have influenced its fluctuating populations. No one is certain who the original peoples were who populated Morocco before it was known as such. Only some Algerian

[2]

cave drawings point to an aboriginal group who wandered the mountains, deserts and grasslands. One theory promotes the idea of these natives being descendants of the Harratines. These are black-skinned, Muslim, Africans who dwell in the southern part of the nation and who hold little status, and work at menial jobs. Or they could be descendants of later cultures, such as the Berbers, or wandering nomad groups from further south who sought better climactic conditions, possibly they are remnant populations of slaves which belonged to the migratory traders of ancient Northern Africa.[3]

However, the first identifiable populace with its own distinct history and culture are the Berbers.

[4]

They were a very large and far-flung people group with individual regimes across Morocco for many centuries. Early on, in the 7^th century, Arabs first brought Islam to the territory, and the Berbers began being converted. Among the different sects of the Berbers were the Zenatas, who lived in the Atlas Mountain region, in a high plateau area, and rode horses. The Sanhajas occupied the Mediterranean coastline to the Western Sahara Desert, much further south. This faction was responsible for bringing the Sunni faith of Islam to the nation, after several of their leadership made the pilgrimage to Mecca in the 11^th century.  The Almoravids, Almohads and Merinids/Wattasids were dynasties which lasted centuries, and were known as the Sa’ads. Later, other dynasties took control, including the Idisid, the Saadi and the Alaouites, who are still in power today. These long-lived dynasties brought stability, even if local tribes often warred amongst each other.[5] Morocco became a place of learning and culture, resulting from the stabilizing effect of their common Islamic dogma.  

During the 9^th century, the reigning dynasty was repelled attacks by the Ottoman Turks who successfully invaded nearby nations. Morocco remained independent throughout the 18^th and 19^th centuries, but faced a showdown with European powers early in the 20^th. As the French and Germans and other European nations began seeking control of African territories and nations, Morocco’s sultan kings continued to reign, but with less power under French and Spanish protectorate status. In the mid-1900’s, the acting sultan requested independence, and in 1974, King Hassan sought to claim the Sahara Desert, owned by Spain. The area, known as Mauritania, and the Western Sahara Desert, remain disputed to this day.[6]

[7]

Today Morocco is still led by a king via lineal succession. However, it boasts modern cities with Muslims, Jews and Christians all living peaceably amongst each other, rare in Islamic cultures.[8] The nation is a desirable, tourist destination, with its vast coastline and proximity to the Iberian Peninsula, as well as its international cities, art, centers of learning and multi-cultural population.

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[1] . "The Political and Economic History of Morocco," The Political and Economic History of Morocco, accessed February 17, 2017, http://www.sjsu.edu/faculty/watkins/morocco.htm.

[2] Algerian cave painting, digital image, The Political and Economic History of Morocco, accessed February 17, 2017, http://www.sjsu.edu/faculty/watkins/tasili1.jpg.

[3] Ibid., The Political and Economic History.

[4] Berbers of North Africa, digital image, Eurasian Origins of Berbers and Modern North Africans, May 2, 2008, accessed February 17, 2017, https://mathildasanthropologyblog.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/berbers.jpg.

[5] "History of Morocco - A Trip Down Memory Lane," Morocco Information | History of Morocco, accessed February 17, 2017, http://www.marokko-info.nl/english/history-of-morocco/.

[6] Ibid.

[7] Susanne Kaiser, "Map of north-western Africa showing Morocco, Algeria, and the disputed territory of Western Sahara," digital image, The Curse of Resources, August 29, 2014, accessed February 17, 2017, https://en.qantara.de/sites/default/files/styles/editor_large/public/uploads/2014/08/29/westsahara_dw_0.jpg?itok=JKQ8Vzm0.

[8] "Religious Beliefs In Morocco," WorldAtlas, October 27, 2016, accessed February 03, 2017, http://www.worldatlas.com/articles/religious-beliefs-in-morocco.html.