Morocco

Morocco (Arabic: المغرب al-Maghrib, Berber: Lmaghrib), officially the Kingdom of Morocco is an Arab country that is part of North Africa. Geographically, Morocco is characterized by mountainous and desert areas. It is one of the few countries (Spain and France) to include the shores of the Mediterranean Sea on one side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other. Morocco has a population of over 33 million inhabitants and an area of ​​446,550 square kilometers. Its capital is Rabat, and the largest city is Casablanca. Its culture is Arab, Berber, African with European influences.
Moroccans are mostly of Arab or Berber culture and Muslim. Morocco is one of the United Nations, the Arab League, the Arab Maghreb Union, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Group of 77 and the Union for the Mediterranean.

The Morocco's political system a constitutional monarchy whose current ruler is King Mohammed VI, of the Alawite dynasty, established since 1666 and one of the oldest in the world today. Morocco is a member of the United Nations, the Arab League, the Arab Maghreb Union, Francophonie, Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Group of 77, the Union for the Mediterranean and the Community of Sahel-Saharan States.

Morocco is the only African country not to be part of the African Union, but can benefit from the services of the organization such as the services of the African Development Bank. In 1987, Morocco has tried unsuccessfully to join the EEC, and was awarded in 2008 an "advanced status" with the UE9. On 15 May 2009, he joined the North-South Centre of the Council of Europe10. In June 2004, Morocco is designated as a major non-NATO ally by the United States11.

According to historian Bernard Lugan is among others the lure of wealth from trade in the South (Sahara) to the North (the West) that will attract the desires of various tribes with the hub city Marrakech will naturally become the capital of various dynasties, especially those from the South (Almoravids, Almohads, Saadian); the history of Morocco (Idrissid the Alawites) is thus marked by trade in the South to the North. The history and origin of Morocco were, are and will be marked by the link with the Sahara12.

The Arabic name al-Maghrib (Arabic: المغرب) means "the West", though he say in Arabic "al-Gharb" الغرب. For historical references, medieval Arab historians and geographers sometimes called Morocco "al-Maghrib al-Aqsa" (Arabic: المغرب الأقصى, which means "The farthest West") to distinguish it from neighboring historical regions called "al-Maghrib al-Awsat" (Arabic: المغرب الأوسط, which means "The Middle West") and al-Maghrib al-Adna (Arabic: المغرب الأدنى, meaning "the West closest" ). The English name "Morocco" originates, respectively, Spanish and Portuguese names "Marruecos" and "Marrocos." These, in turn, come from "Marrakech", the medieval Latin name for the former Almoravid and Almohad capital. The name "Marrakech" is the name given by the Persian Morocco. In Turkey, Morocco is known as "Fas", a name derived from its ancient capital Fez. The word "Marrakesh" comes from the Berber lmṛṛuk (As in the history of many nations around the world, no Moroccan dynasty (Idissides of the Alawites) can not be imposed by itself. All will, to expand and establish their geographical influence on shorter or longer periods, to form alliances (interested, religious, marital, forced, peaceful or negotiated) with various other Muslim tribes and sometimes Jewish country. Islam will be the main cement between different tribes that make up the kingdom but his interpretations will be born of conflict. the fact that some dynasties are claimed sharif will not be a sufficient advantage to their persistence.

The Morocco will long remain a strongly tribal country that after independence in 1956, is the reason why, even today, representatives of the various tribes of the country continue to renew their allegiance to the King during the annual Throne Day. Given the family strife and power struggles within the various successive Moroccan dynasties all members (without exception) of the royal family are also required to swear allegiance to the King. This Throne Day aims to weld and to recall the relationship between the monarch and the people especially at difficult times in the history of the country.



"Amur n'wakuc" Tifinagh) which means "Land of God".


Village in the High Atlas.

Tamraght Beach.

Map and Mauretania and Numidia.
The French name is derived Morocco meanwhile the Portuguese pronunciation of Marrakech, Marrocos city center of the country founded in 1062 and which was the capital of three dynasties (the Almoravids, Almohads and Saadian). This pronunciation also derive Marruecos (Spanish) Marocko (in Swedish), Morocco (in English), and Marokko (German, Norwegian and Dutch), the Persians calling them Marakech. The Turks call Fas just the name of the ancient capital of Morocco under the Merinid dynasties Wattasid and Alawite (before 1912), Fes. In ancient times, the Greeks called the inhabitants of the region Maurusiens. From this term, the area consisted of Morocco and western Algeria was known as Mauretania (not to be confused with Mauritania). The area was later split into two provinces by the Romans Mauretania: Volubilis Mauretania Tingitane with capital (ancient Berber city of Oulil) and Mauretania with Cesarean Cesarean (Tipaza) capital (central and western Algeria) . Morocco was the country where the ancient Greeks located the mythical Garden of Hesperides.

Morocco was known as the Kingdom of Marrakech under the three dynasties that had the city as its capital, then as the Kingdom of Fez under the dynasties who lived in Fez. Under the dynasty of Alawites, Morocco was also called chérifien Empire. This name, widely used before 1956, remained so today in reference to the Alawite ruler, a descendant of Islam's prophet Muhammad, called "sherif" that is to say noble. In the nineteenth century, European cartographers always mention a "Kingdom of Morocco" by indicating the ancient capital "Morocco" (for Marrakech). At independence, the country took the official name of the Kingdom of Morocco and Sultan Mohammed ben Youssef became king under the name of Mohamed V.