Morocco

Morocco is located in North Africa, world population review estimates Morocco’s population at 36,496,532 (2018). Including the disputed Western Sahara, its area is 710,850 sq. km. Morocco claims the territory of Western Sahara, the political status of which is considered undetermined by the US Government; portions of the regions Guelmim-Es Smara and Laayoune-Boujdour-Sakia El Hamra as claimed by Morocco lie within Western Sahara; Morocco also claims Oued Eddahab-Lagouira, another region that falls entirely within Western Sahara.

Its coast on the Atlantic Ocean moves past the Strait of Gibraltar to the Mediterranean Sea. Across the strait, Spain borders it to the north. Algeria borders to the east and Mauritania to the South.

The country has an elected parliament and is a constitutional monarchy. The King holds a number of executive powers, including the power to dissolve parliament. There are two houses of parliament, the Assembly of Councillors and the Assembly of Representatives. Recent elections for parliament were generally considered free and fair. Rabat is the capital and Casablanca is the largest city.

Name

The English name “Morocco” comes from the Spanish and Portuguese words referring to the former capital, Marrakesh. The country is still called Marrakesh in Persian, Urdu, and Hindi. The Turkish word “Fas” comes from the ancient Marinid and Idrisid capital Fes.

History

Berber Morocco

Morocco has been inhabited since Neolithic times when the area was less arid. The area resembled a savannah at that time. Various ethnic groups have contributed to Morocco in addition to the Berbers, including Arabs, Phoenicians, Iberians, Sephardic Jews, and sub-Saharan Africans.

Romans and Berber Morocco

Early settlements and Phoenician trading colonies brought Morocco into the Mediterranean world. Mogador was a Phoenician colony as early as the 6th century BC. The area later formed an important part of the Roman Empire and was called Mauretania Tingitana. When the Roman Empire declined in the fifth century, the area fell to the Vandals, Visigoths, and the Byzantine Empire in quick succession. Most of modern Morocco still was not subdued and were still in Berber hands.

Islamic Era

In the seventh century, Islamic expansion began. The Arabs brought Islam and their language. Most Berbers converted. The Berber population asserted its independence after the Great Berber Revolt in 739. They formed states and kingdoms. The country cut ties with Abbasid caliphs in Bagdad under Idris ibn Abdallah. Fes became the Idrisids capital. Morocco became a learning center and regional power.

Under a series of Berber dynasties after the 11th century, Morocco reached its height. Banu Hilal Arab tribes migrated to the area in the 13th century. With their arrival urbanization fell and the country was becoming Arabized. Under several dynasties including the Maghrawa, Almohads, Almoravids, Marinids, Wattasids, and the Saadi, Morocco came to rule most of Northwest Africa and large parts of the Iberia. Muslims and Jews fled to Morocco after the Iberian was reconquered.