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For several centuries, Morocco was the center of a great empire stretching all the way from Northern Spain through West Africa. The unifying factor was primarily religion. Between the ninth and the twelfth century, three dynasties of Sultans came to power with a clear objective of spreading Islam. The Berber tribes that had embraced Islam were quickly associated as equal partners for further conquests. For three centuries the conquest of Spain proceeded and the success achieved in the name of the Sultan further solidified the unity of Morocco. This solidarity continues to assure both political and spiritual authority for Moroccan Kings.
After eight centuries of occupation by the Arabs, the Catholic Kings of Spain succeeded in driving out the Moslems and Jews from Spain in 1492. Three million Moslems, which included a large number of Europeans and Jews who had converted to Islam, sought refuge in Morocco over the years, adding to a population that was no more than four million at that time. Many of these refugees left Morocco for other parts of the Arab World, and other Middle Eastern countries. Because of its strategic position, from the fifteenth century on, Morocco has had to withstand the constant assaults of European powers, in particular Spain, Portugal and France. This constant threat from the exterior and the efforts of Kings to mobilize the population for resistance further strengthened the unity and national consciousness of the country.
In the end, Morocco lost its independence in 1912 when it was forced to sign a protectorate treaty with France. Although the treaty left the ruling Alawite dynasty in place, it ceded control of governmental functions to the French. Morocco regained its independence in 1956, and, since then, the Alawite dynasty has regained the rule over the country. King Hassan II succeeded his father King Mohammed V in 1961 and built a new model of government, which enabled him to retain substantial authority while introducing selective elements of western-style democracy, including an elected parliament and a system of multiparty politics. Until recently the center-right had dominated parliament and government. In 1997, the King finally achieved his ambition of installing a "gouvernement d'alternance", i.e. a government that alternates from the right to the left.
King Hassan II died on July 23, 1999 and was succeeded by his son King Mohammed VI. Western governments respected King Hassan II as a moderate Arab leader and skilled international power broker. His successor, king Mohammed VI has introduced a vast program of reforms and modernization.
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