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12 years ago
History of Morocco.
Geography: Morocco is a country located in the Northwest corner of the Saharan Desert, with shores stretching across both the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. It borders Algeria to the East, Mauritania to the South, and Spain to the North. Although it lays claim to much disputed territory, Morocco administrates an area the size of California.
Climate Much of the country is covered in desert, which is characteristic of the Sahara. However in the High Atlas mountains, snow is extremely common and in Winter, it is possible to see snow covered-sand dunes. Sand dunes, forests and coastal plains all cover different areas of Morocco.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8c/Maroc_%2C_dune_de_Chegaga.JPG/220px-Maroc_%2C_dune_de_Chegaga.JPG
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/de/Village_atlas.jpeg/220px-Village_atlas.jpeg
People: Morocco is inhabited by a native population of Berbers (or Amazighen) as well as people of Arabian descent. In major cities there is also a sizable presence of foreigners from Europe and elsewhere.
Language: The major languages of Morocco are Arabic, Berber, and French.
Customs:
-People greet one another with a kiss on both cheeks.
-Timeliness is not a virtue.
-Moroccans are extremely hospitable, and you may be invited into a house within just a few seconds of meeting someone.
-Refreshing Mint Herbal Tea is served to guests. Being a good host means being an expert tea-brewer.
-One's social class is easily recognizable by one's proficiency in French. French is taught to 65 percent of school children. French is often used for business.
-Marketplaces and Tea Houses are the centers of much of public life.
-Romantic outings are not conducted between two people, but rather in groups of friends.
These are all things that you will see in Al Medina! Try your hand at these customs for a new kind of Sims 3 Gameplay.
History:
In the Classical Era, Morocco was inhabited by Phoenician traders and later served as a province in the Roman Empire. In this time, the territory was known as "Mauritania". It was at that time, Christianity became the first major religion to spread in the region.
After the decline and eventual fall of the Roman Empire, Morocco became part of the Byzantine Empire, however no foreign conquerors would be able to hold actual power over Morocco until many centuries later.
In the year 670 AD, a foreign Arab empire originating from Syria laid claim to Morocco and although they were not able to keep a long lasting political influence, they were able to introduce Islam. Islam is still the religion of 98 percent of Moroccans.
During this medieval era, all of the lands in North Africa, west of Egypt, were known as the Maghreb.
After the Berbers rebelled against the Arabs, Morocco was separated into small, but powerful city-states. Some of these city-states were populated with Arabs and others were populated with native Berbers. These urban centers relied on advanced techniques of transporting water from the desert. The economy of these cities relied on trade networks from cities across the Sahara. Some of these cities include Fez, Tangiers, Sigilmassa, and Aghmate.
Native Berber Empires were the first governments that were able to effectively administrate over all of Morocco. These empires brought the Maghreb into a new era of maturity as an economic, religious, militaristic, and educational hegemon.
The first of these empires was the Almoravid Dynasty. The Almoravids were extremely religious zealots who were able conquer all of Morocco, Southern Spain, parts of Algeria, and the Western Sahara. Although the Almoravids did not live a spartan lifestyle, they were not too keen on extravagance and luxury. Despite this, they were very successful administrators and ran a society that was much more advanced than any in Europe. Their capital, Marrakesh, is still a place of cultural identity for Moroccans.
Not all Berbers would succumb to their influence, however. In medieval times, most Moroccan cities would be surrounded by tall city walls and strong city gates. Trade routes would be protected by Kasbahs, (forts) that would help to quell raids from rebel Berber groups.
One of these rebel groups were called the Almohads. They originated from the Atlas mountains, a region which the Almoravids had lots of trouble keeping control over. The Almohads controlled the route between Marrakesh, which is north of the Atlas Mountains, and the ancient city of Sigilmassa, which was south of the Atlas Mountains. Sigilmassa was the key to having access to the immense amounts of gold, spices, and incense from the Sahara Desert.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/73/Almohad_Masmuda_tribes.gif/300px-Almohad_Masmuda_tribes.gif
The Almohads laid seige to the capital of Marrakesh in 1130, and successfully gained control of Morocco shortly after.
Later on, the Almohads would control even more territory than their predecessors. They would control larger parts of Spain and Portugal, all of Morocco, and the entirety of North Africa to the borders of Egypt.
The Almohads were even more scholarly, militaristic, and economically powerful than the Almohads, but in addition to this, they were more liberal and lavish regime. Foreign scholars, whether they be Christian or Jewish or Muslim, would flock to Moroccan cities to study. Although Hammams (public bathhouses) had existed in the Maghreb since ancient times, The Hammams of the Almohads were especially luxurious. The comfort of this society was known worldwide. In fact, in Spanish the word "Almohada" means "pillow".
Eventually, rival Berber tribes would challenge the Almohads, and due to shrinking tax revenues, the Almohads became less and less able to keep control of the empire. A famine later came, that killed over 2 million people.
After this, many Arabian dynasties controlled Morocco. Their rulers claimed to be descended from the Prophet Mohammed himself. Slowly, they rebuilt the prestige of Morocco by winning regional conflicts. The last of these dynasties, the Alaouites still rule Morocco to this day.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/07/Ferdinand-Victor-Eug%C3%A8ne_DELACROIX_-_Moulay_Abd-er-Rahman%2C_sultan_du_Maroc%2C_sortant_de_son_palais_de_Meknes%2C_entour%C3%A9_de_sa_garde_et_de_ses_principaux_officiers._-_Mus%C3%A9e_des_Augustins_-_2004_1_99.jpg/220px-thumbnail.jpg
Between the 1800's and early 1900's, Morocco became a coveted territory for foreign colonization. The French and Spaniards both laid claim to the Maghreb. Because of this, Morocco became a pawn in the time leading up to World War I.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e4/War_in_Morocco_Death_of_Spanish_general_Margallo.JPG/220px-War_in_Morocco_Death_of_Spanish_general_Margallo.JPG
Eventually, the King of Morocco was able to wrest sovereignty away from the Europeans and became the sole ruler of Morocco. During an era of global democratization, rule by a monarchy has been difficult, however Morocco has been able to merge tradition with the values of a new generation. Morocco is an emerging market economy and is now one of the most prominent economies in Africa. The King's powers are limited (as long as he restrains himself) by a national Constitution. As an Islamic nation, Moroccans are now proud to say that they have rejected the extremism and torrential violence that has plagued the rest of the Middle-East.
Geography: Morocco is a country located in the Northwest corner of the Saharan Desert, with shores stretching across both the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. It borders Algeria to the East, Mauritania to the South, and Spain to the North. Although it lays claim to much disputed territory, Morocco administrates an area the size of California.
Climate Much of the country is covered in desert, which is characteristic of the Sahara. However in the High Atlas mountains, snow is extremely common and in Winter, it is possible to see snow covered-sand dunes. Sand dunes, forests and coastal plains all cover different areas of Morocco.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8c/Maroc_%2C_dune_de_Chegaga.JPG/220px-Maroc_%2C_dune_de_Chegaga.JPG
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/de/Village_atlas.jpeg/220px-Village_atlas.jpeg
People: Morocco is inhabited by a native population of Berbers (or Amazighen) as well as people of Arabian descent. In major cities there is also a sizable presence of foreigners from Europe and elsewhere.
Language: The major languages of Morocco are Arabic, Berber, and French.
Customs:
-People greet one another with a kiss on both cheeks.
-Timeliness is not a virtue.
-Moroccans are extremely hospitable, and you may be invited into a house within just a few seconds of meeting someone.
-Refreshing Mint Herbal Tea is served to guests. Being a good host means being an expert tea-brewer.
-One's social class is easily recognizable by one's proficiency in French. French is taught to 65 percent of school children. French is often used for business.
-Marketplaces and Tea Houses are the centers of much of public life.
-Romantic outings are not conducted between two people, but rather in groups of friends.
These are all things that you will see in Al Medina! Try your hand at these customs for a new kind of Sims 3 Gameplay.
History:
In the Classical Era, Morocco was inhabited by Phoenician traders and later served as a province in the Roman Empire. In this time, the territory was known as "Mauritania". It was at that time, Christianity became the first major religion to spread in the region.
After the decline and eventual fall of the Roman Empire, Morocco became part of the Byzantine Empire, however no foreign conquerors would be able to hold actual power over Morocco until many centuries later.
In the year 670 AD, a foreign Arab empire originating from Syria laid claim to Morocco and although they were not able to keep a long lasting political influence, they were able to introduce Islam. Islam is still the religion of 98 percent of Moroccans.
During this medieval era, all of the lands in North Africa, west of Egypt, were known as the Maghreb.
After the Berbers rebelled against the Arabs, Morocco was separated into small, but powerful city-states. Some of these city-states were populated with Arabs and others were populated with native Berbers. These urban centers relied on advanced techniques of transporting water from the desert. The economy of these cities relied on trade networks from cities across the Sahara. Some of these cities include Fez, Tangiers, Sigilmassa, and Aghmate.
Native Berber Empires were the first governments that were able to effectively administrate over all of Morocco. These empires brought the Maghreb into a new era of maturity as an economic, religious, militaristic, and educational hegemon.
The first of these empires was the Almoravid Dynasty. The Almoravids were extremely religious zealots who were able conquer all of Morocco, Southern Spain, parts of Algeria, and the Western Sahara. Although the Almoravids did not live a spartan lifestyle, they were not too keen on extravagance and luxury. Despite this, they were very successful administrators and ran a society that was much more advanced than any in Europe. Their capital, Marrakesh, is still a place of cultural identity for Moroccans.
Not all Berbers would succumb to their influence, however. In medieval times, most Moroccan cities would be surrounded by tall city walls and strong city gates. Trade routes would be protected by Kasbahs, (forts) that would help to quell raids from rebel Berber groups.
One of these rebel groups were called the Almohads. They originated from the Atlas mountains, a region which the Almoravids had lots of trouble keeping control over. The Almohads controlled the route between Marrakesh, which is north of the Atlas Mountains, and the ancient city of Sigilmassa, which was south of the Atlas Mountains. Sigilmassa was the key to having access to the immense amounts of gold, spices, and incense from the Sahara Desert.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/73/Almohad_Masmuda_tribes.gif/300px-Almohad_Masmuda_tribes.gif
The Almohads laid seige to the capital of Marrakesh in 1130, and successfully gained control of Morocco shortly after.
Later on, the Almohads would control even more territory than their predecessors. They would control larger parts of Spain and Portugal, all of Morocco, and the entirety of North Africa to the borders of Egypt.
The Almohads were even more scholarly, militaristic, and economically powerful than the Almohads, but in addition to this, they were more liberal and lavish regime. Foreign scholars, whether they be Christian or Jewish or Muslim, would flock to Moroccan cities to study. Although Hammams (public bathhouses) had existed in the Maghreb since ancient times, The Hammams of the Almohads were especially luxurious. The comfort of this society was known worldwide. In fact, in Spanish the word "Almohada" means "pillow".
Eventually, rival Berber tribes would challenge the Almohads, and due to shrinking tax revenues, the Almohads became less and less able to keep control of the empire. A famine later came, that killed over 2 million people.
After this, many Arabian dynasties controlled Morocco. Their rulers claimed to be descended from the Prophet Mohammed himself. Slowly, they rebuilt the prestige of Morocco by winning regional conflicts. The last of these dynasties, the Alaouites still rule Morocco to this day.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/07/Ferdinand-Victor-Eug%C3%A8ne_DELACROIX_-_Moulay_Abd-er-Rahman%2C_sultan_du_Maroc%2C_sortant_de_son_palais_de_Meknes%2C_entour%C3%A9_de_sa_garde_et_de_ses_principaux_officiers._-_Mus%C3%A9e_des_Augustins_-_2004_1_99.jpg/220px-thumbnail.jpg
Between the 1800's and early 1900's, Morocco became a coveted territory for foreign colonization. The French and Spaniards both laid claim to the Maghreb. Because of this, Morocco became a pawn in the time leading up to World War I.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e4/War_in_Morocco_Death_of_Spanish_general_Margallo.JPG/220px-War_in_Morocco_Death_of_Spanish_general_Margallo.JPG
Eventually, the King of Morocco was able to wrest sovereignty away from the Europeans and became the sole ruler of Morocco. During an era of global democratization, rule by a monarchy has been difficult, however Morocco has been able to merge tradition with the values of a new generation. Morocco is an emerging market economy and is now one of the most prominent economies in Africa. The King's powers are limited (as long as he restrains himself) by a national Constitution. As an Islamic nation, Moroccans are now proud to say that they have rejected the extremism and torrential violence that has plagued the rest of the Middle-East.
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