Morocco

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Fountain of Freedom, Source of Light Where sovereignty and safety meet, Safety and sovereignty May you ever combine! You have lived among nations With title sublime, Filling each heart, Sung by each tongue, Your champion has risen And answered your call. In my mouth And in my blood Your breezes have stirred Both light and fire. Up! my brethren, Strive for the highest. We call to the world That we are here ready. We salute as our emblem God, Homeland, and King. =====

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__Location//__Al-Mamlaka al-Maghribiya’__) - Official name is  Kingdom of morocco  is situated in the north-western corner of Africa. It shares international borders with Algeria in the east, Spain in the north (a=====

===='Fountain of Freedom, Source of Light Where sovereignty and safety meet, Safety and sovereignty May you ever combine! You have lived among nations With title sublime, Filling each heart, Sung by each tongue, Your champion has risen And answered your call. In my mouth And in my blood Your breezes have stirred Both light and fire. Up! my brethren, Strive for the highest. We call to the world That we are here ready. We salute as our emblem God, Homeland, and King''====


 * 

Founded in 1070 by the Almoravids, the

southern Moroccan city of **Marrakesh** was once an important political and cultural center, with influence throughout the western Muslim world. Today, Marrakesh plays less of a political role but it remains the most popular destination for visitors to Morocco. In addition to the souks, the famous Place Jamaâ El Fna with its snake charmers, and the enchanting "red city" itself, Marrakesh retains several impressive monuments from its illustrious history. Many of these are religious sites, the most notable of which include the Koutoubia Mosque with its classic minaret, the magnificently decorate Ben Medersa the colorfully tiled and carved Saadian Tombs the ancient Almoravid Koubba and the tombs of the seven saints that still attract pilgrims.

5,000 BC || Capsian and Mouilian Man spread across the Maghreb. **Rock carvings** in Oukaimeden, Foum el Hassan and elsewhere date from this period. ||
 * 10,000-
 * 1100 BC || **Phoenician** settlements in Morocco during the Bronze Age. First trading port is in Lixus near Larache. ||
 * 500 BC || **Carthaginians** take over and expand the Moroccan Phoenician settlements. Remains of this period can be seen in Lixus and in the Rabat Archaeological Museum. ||
 * 146 BC || Carthage falls to Rome in the Third Punic War. Roman influence spreads into the Berber kingdoms of Mauretania-Numidia. ||
 * 27 BC || Morocco comes under direct **Roman rule** during the reign of Emperor Caligula. Volubilis developed as a provincial capital; extensive ruins can still be seen there. Lixus and Tangier were also minor sites. Roman mosaics can be seen in the Tetouan and Rabat museums. ||
 * 253 AD || Roman legions withdraw

from Morocco. ||
 * 429 || Vandals pass through Morocco. ||
 * 535 || **Byzantines** occupy Ceuta on the north coast. ||
 * 622 || Islam founded by Muhammad in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, and quickly spreads throughout the Middle East. ||
 * c.705 || **Islam** comes to Morocco when Arab rule is established in the north under Moussa Ibn Nasr. ||
 * 711 || Moussa Ibn Nasr leads the Berber invasion of Spain. ||
 * 788-923 || **Idrissid Dynasty** ||
 * 788 || Moulay Idriss founds the first Moroccan Arab dynasty, along with the cities of Moulay Idriss and fes ||
 * 807-36 || Rule of Moulay Idriss II. Fes further developed; refugees from Kairouan and Andalusia settle there; ||
 * 10-11C || Hilali tribes destroy Maghrebi infrastructure ||
 * 1062-1145 || **Almoravid Dynasty** ||
 * 1062 || Youssef bin Tachfine founds the first great Berber dynasty and establishes his capital in Marrakesk . ||
 * 1090 || Almoravids invade Spain. ||
 * 1120s || Ibn Toumert sets up a ribat in Tin Mal in the High Atlas. The ruined mosque of Tin Mal can be visited (non-Muslims may enter). ||
 * 1147-1248 || **Almohad Dynasty** ||
 * 1145-47 || Abd el Moumen captures Fes, then Marrakesh. Extensive building of walls, gates and minarets in this period, notably the minaret of Koutoubia Mosque Marrakesh. ||
 * 1195 || Yacoub el Mansour (1184-99) extends Almohad rule to Spain and east to Tripoli. La Giralda in Seville constructed and new capital established at Rabat, where the Hassan Tower and Oudaia Gate are lasting monuments. ||
 * 1212 || Almohads defeated in Spain at Las Navas de Tolosa. ||
 * 1248-1465 || **Merenid Dynasty** ||
 * 1250s || Abou Youssef Yacoub (1258-86) establishes power in Morocco. Monuments from this period include: Zaouia and mausoleum in Rabat; new

city (El Djedid) in Fes; medersas built in Fes, Meknes and Salé. ||
 * 1330-60 || Abou el Hassan (1331-51) and Abou Inan (1351-58) are two of the most successful Merenid rulers; they extend rule briefly to Tunisia. ||
 * 1415 || Portuguese begin attacking Moroccan coast, taking Ceuta and then other cities. Portuguese-era remains in Morocco include a cistern in El Jadida and walls and remains in Azzemour, Asilah and Safi. ||
 * 1465-1554 || **Wattasid Dynasty** ||
 * 1465 || Merenid viziers known as the Wattasids usurp power. Chefchaouen is built and Tetouan refounded by refugees. ||
 * 1465 || Fall of Granada, the last Muslim kingdom in Spain. Jewish and Muslim refugees settle in Morocco. ||
 * 15-16C || The Marabouts establish zaouias, controlling parts of the country. ||
 * 1554-1669 || **Saadian Dynasty** ||
 * 1554 || Mohammed esh Sheikh (d.1557) founds the Saadian dynasty in Marrakesh. ||
 * 1579 || Accession of Ahmed el Mansour (1578-1603) after the Battle of Three Kings. Mansour goes on to conquer Timbuktu and the gold and slave routes to the south. In this period, El Badi Palace are built in Marrakesh and pavilion extensions are added to [|Kairaouine Mosque] in Fes. ||
 * 1627 || The pirate Republic of Bou Regreg set up by Andalusian refugees. Rabat Medina built. ||
 * 1669-present || **Alaouite Dynasty** ||
 * 1672-1727 || Rule of Moulay Ismail, who imposes the Alaouite Dynasty in Morocco. New imperial capital established in Meknes, with monuments including Ismail's mausoleum. Kasbahs and forts built; palaces constructed in Tangier and Rabat. [|Tomb of Moulay Idriss] rebuilt. ||
 * 18-19C || Rule of Sidi Mohammed (1757-90) and Moulay Suleiman (1792-1822). Grand mosques rebuilt, especially in Marrakesh. Many pavilions and gardens in Marrakesh date from early 18C. Extensive palace building, such as El Badi in Marrakesh and Palais Jamai in Fes. ||
 * 1860 || Dispute over Spain's Ceuta enclave. Spain dec

lares war, wins a further enclave and an enlarged Ceuta. ||
 * 1894 || Death of Moulay Hassan, the last effective sultan of "Old Morocco." ||
 * 1912 || Treaty of Fes establishes the **French and Spanish Protectorates** (1912-56). European Villes Nouvelles (new towns) are built outside the old medinas. Mauresque architecture developed for administrative buildings. ||
 * 1912 || T'hami el Glaoui becomes pasha of Marrakesh and is used by the French to conquer southern tribes. Glaoui palaces built in Telouet and Marrakesh; kasbahs built throughout southern Morocco. ||
 * 1921 || Tribal rebellion in Rif mountains under Abd El Krim is suppressed by French and Spanish troops. ||
 * 1943 || Nationalist Istiqlal party formed in fes. ||
 * 1956 || Morocco gains **independence**.

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 * 1961 || Accession of **King Hassan II** (1961-99) ||
 * 1975 || Green March into Western Sahara. New royal palaces built in all major cities. ||
 * 1997 || Democratic elections in Morocco completed ||
 * 1999 || Accession of King Mohammed VI. ||
 * 2003 || Over 40 killed when suicide bombers attack several sites, including a Spanish restaurant and Jewish community center. Moroccans react with public marches against anti-Semitism and hatred. ||
 * Feb. 2004 || Powerful earthquake hits northern Morocco, killing more than 500. ||
 * July 2004 || Free trade agreement with the US comes into effect. ||
 * April 2007 || Three suicide bombers blow themselves up in Casablanca, a few weeks after a suicide blast in an internet cafe. ||

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