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HISTORY

Through the ages, Morocco has been exposed to invasions and foreign influence. The first invasion took place around 1000 BC when the Phoenicians set up trade posts on the Mediterranean coast and later on the Atlantic coast. In the first century Morocco became part of the Roman Empire. In the 7th century the Arabs started to invade the country and in the next century almost the entire population converted to Islam. The new Arab rulers employed Berber armies to occupy the south of Spain. By the end of the 8th century the Idrisid dynasty founded the city of Fez which became the capital of the first Moroccan Muslim state. In the 11th century, Morocco was ruled by the Almoravids, a Berber tribe from the south. They founded Marrakech in 1062. Arab became the official language. In 1147 the Almohads took over the rule over the country and they founded an independent kingdom which had more or less the size of the present Morocco.

During centuries a period of peace reigned over this kingdom. In 1912 Morocco became a French protectorate. By 1934 the French had completely taken over the government of Morocco. Although Morocco supported France during the Second World War, the call for independence became stronger. In March 1956 granted independence and Sultan Mohammed V became king. Some cities on the northern coast remained Spanish possessions.

Mohammed was succeeded by his son, king Hassan II. Morocco was to be a democratic, social monarchy. However, discontent among the population and the military continued to grow. Hassan II tried to win the support of his people by taking a nationalistic stance : the economy was "morocconized" and the possessions of the rich foreigners were confiscated and divided among the peasants. The most eye-catching political problem of this reign was the amends that Morocco made over the Western-Sahara. This former Spanish colony was given to a joint Moroccon-Mauretanian government, but the polisario freedom movement of the Western Sahara continued to strive for independence of Morocco. King Hassan II died in 1999 and was succeeded by his son.