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History, Morocco

Maciej Mońka

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The first civilization in Morocco arrived with agriculture some 8000 years ago. In about 1000 BC the Berbers moved into the region coming to dominate it. The arrival of Phoenicians heralded many centuries of rule by foreign powers as the strategic region formed part of the Roman empire before falling to the Vandals, Visigoths, and then Byzantine Greeks. Arab forces began occupying Morocco in the seventh century A.D., bringing their civilization and Islam, to which most of the Berbers converted, forming states such as the Kingdom of Nekor. The country soon broke away from the control of the distant caliphs under Idris ibn Salih who founded the Idrisid Dynasty. Morocco became a centre of learning and a major power. Morrocco would reach its height under a series of Berber dynasties that would replace the Arab Idrisids. First the Almohads, then the Almoravids would see Morocco rule most of Northwest Africa, as well as large sections of Spain. The smaller states of the region, such as the Berghouata and Banu Isam, were conquered. The empire collapsed, however, with a long running series of civil wars. The Alaouite dynasty eventually gained control. Morocco was facing aggression from the crusading kingdoms of Iberia and the Ottoman Empire that was sweeping westward. The Alaouites succeeded in stabilizing their position, and while the kingdom was smaller than previous ones in the region it remained quite wealthy.