History
of Morocco :- Morocco is the tantalising lower lip on the mouth
of the Mediterranean Sea, a Muslim land so rich in mystique it seems to
hover like a magic carpet somewhere between myth and reality. The Berbers
settled in the area thousands of years ago and at one time controlled all of
the land between Morocco and Egypt. Divided into clans and tribes.
The
early Berbers were unmoved by the colonising Phoenicians, and even the
Romans did little to upset the Berber way of life after the sack of Carthage
in 146 BC. Islam burst onto the world stage in the 7th century when the Arab
armies swept out of Arabia. Quickly conquering Egypt, the Arabs controlled
all of North Africa by the start of the 8th century. By the next century
much of North Africa had fragmented, with the move towards a united Morocco
steadily growing. A fundamentalist Berber movement emerged from the chaos
caused by the Arab invasion, overrunning Morocco and Muslim Andalusia (in
Spain). The Almoravids founded Marrakesh as their capital, but they were
soon replaced by the Almohads.
After a number of short-lived
dynasties rose and fell, the Alawite family secured a stranglehold in the
1630s that remains firm to this day. Although it was rarely a smooth ride,
this pragmatic dynasty managed to keep Morocco independent for more than
three centuries.Enter the European traders in the late 19th century, and a
long era of colonial renovations. Suddenly France, Spain and Germany were
all keen on hijacking the country for its strategic position and rich trade
resources. France won out and occupied virtually the entire country by 1912.
Spain clung to a small coastal protectorate and Tangier was declared an
international zone.
The first French resident-general, Marshal
Lyautey, respected the Arab culture. He generously resisted the urge to
destroy the existing Moroccan towns and instead built French villes
nouvelles (new towns) alongside them. He made Rabat on the Atlantic coast
the new capital and developed the port of Casablanca. Their efforts to speed
French settlement prompted the people of the Rif Mountains, led by the
Berber scholar Abd el-Krim, to rise up against both colonial forces. It was
only through the combined efforts of 25,000 Spanish-French troops that Abd
el-Krim was eventually forced to surrender in 1926. By the 1930s, more than
200,000 French had made Morocco home.
But by the 1960s it had become clear that the 100,000 or so inhabitants
of the 'territory' wanted independence. Western Sahara's Popular Front for
the Liberation of Saguia al-Hamra and Rio de Oro (Polisario) didn't take
kindly to the invasion and embarked on a long and gruesome war of
independence against Morocco. In 1991, the United Nations brokered a
ceasefire and more recently decided to 'remain seized of the matter'. In
July 1999 King Hassan II, who had served as absolute monarch for 38 years,
was succeeded by his son, Crown Prince sidi Mohammed. King Mohammed VI has
promised to purge corruption from the government, allow more freedom of the
press and institute the odd democratic reform just as soon as he gets a
chance. Much-anticipated democratic reforms are a rocky proposition in this
country still stuck in a feudalist rut, but it looks like the young king may
well give it his best shot.
Full
Country Name - Kingdom of Morocco.
Area - 447,000 sq km.
Population - 29 million.
Capital City - Rabat.
People - 55% Arab, 44% Berber, 0.7% foreigners
Languages
-Arabic (officially) with Berber dialects, as well as French, Spanish
and English.
Religion - 98% Muslim, 1% Christian, 1% Jew.
Government
- Constitutional monarchy
Visas - :- All visitors require a passport. Citizens of
the United Kingdom , Europe , American , Australia and New Zealand do not
need visas. Three-month visitor's stamps can be extended by Immigration or
Bureau des Etrangers in most large towns.
Time: GMT/UTC
Climate
- On the coast the weather is tourist-friendly pretty much all year
round, although winter can bring cool and wet conditions in the north. In
the lowlands, the cooler months from October to April are popular among
visitors. This time of year is pleasantly warm to hot (around 30°C)
during the day and cool to cold (around 15°C) at night. Winter in the
higher regions demands some serious insulation. If you're heading into the
hills, the ski season usually lasts from December to March. For most
trekking trips you should book in the high season (June 15 to September 15)
or you may find areas full.
Currency
-Dirham (Dr)
Cities
- Rabat The fourth of the imperial cities, The city's most famous site
is the
Tour Hassan, the incomplete minaret of the great mosque begun
by
Yacoub al-Mansour. An earthquake brought construction to a halt
in 1755. Alongside is the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, the present king's
father. The
Kasbah des Oudaias, built on the bluff overlooking the
Atlantic Ocean, houses a former palace which is now a museum of traditional
art. Beyond the city walls are the remains of the ancient city of
Sala.
Also known as
Chella, it has Morocco's best Archaeology Museum.
Between the city's landmark central park (
Jardins Triangle de Vue)
and the main train station, you'll find most of Rabat's hotels and eating
spots.
Casablanca
Of all the cities in all the world, Hollywood chose this one to immortalise
as the classic exotic colonial outpost. This port city was deep in decline
until the French decided to remodel it with wide boulevards, public parks
and imposing
Mauresque (Moorish) civic buildings. Casablanca's
medina, or ancient quarter, is worth a look and the
Hassan II Mosque
here is one of the largest in the world. At the square known as the
Place
Mohammed V you'll find the country's most impressive examples of
Mauresque
architecture. 'Casa' shares the Mohammed V airport with Rabat, and regular
flights are available to and from Europe and the Middle East.
Marrakesh
One of Morocco's most important cultural centres, Marrakesh is a lively
former capital famed for its markets and festivals. Its wildly beating heart
is the
Place Djemaa el-Fna, a huge square in the old city. Rows of
open-air food stalls are set up here and mouth-watering aromas fill the air.
Jugglers, storytellers, snake charmers, magicians, acrobats and assorted
benign lunatics take over the rest of the space. The
souqs (markets)
here are among the best in Morocco and a large budget hotel strip makes
exploring the old city area cheap and easy. Among the many attractions of
the ancient quarter is the rare Almoravid-style
Koubba Ba'adiyn
mosque annex, the magnificent
Koutoubia mosque and the
Palais
Dar Si Said (Museum of Moroccan Arts). Trains and buses to this inland
city run regularly from Casablanca and Rabat.
Fès
The oldest of the imperial cities, Fès is arguably the symbolic heart
of Morocco.The medina of
Fès el-Bali (Old Fès) is one
of the largest living medieval cities in the world and the gates and walls
that surround it make it all the more magnificent. Unlike many walled cities
of this vintage, Old Fès hasn't burst its banks. Within the old city,
tucked among roughly 9,400 streets and alleys, is the towering
Medersa
Bou Inania, a theological college built in 1350. Not far from here the
henna souq is a market specialising in the dye used for colouring
hair and tattooing women' hands and feet. Next door to the old walled city
is
Fès el-Jdid, home to the city's Jewish community and many
spectacular buildings. In between the two self-contained cities is the
Dar
Batha, now the Museum du Batha. Fès is best reached by train from
Rabat, Marrakesh or Tangier.
Tangier While it's a
compelling sort of city and a popular port of entry for tourists, Tangier is
also home to some of the world's best hustlers. The city's central
Petit
Socco is the focus of attention. Back in the days when Tangier was a
neutral international zone, this area provided the background for the
seediest of lifestyles and it hasn't completely lost this air. Paedophile
scenes aside, it is the
kasbah that interests many visitors. It
contains the 17th-century Dar el-Makhzen, the former sultan's palace and now
a good museum. The nearby
American Legation Museum is a fascinating
reminder that Morocco was the first country to recognise American
Independence.
Restrictions
- Proof of yellow fever vaccination is rarely checked at the airport,
but is checked at the most borders.
