Muhammad III
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PREHISTORY: the cut or polished stone tools of the different prehistoric eras. The innumerable cave paintings of the prehistoric era and of the Bronze Age show that man existed in Morocco as early as the furthest prehistoric times.
ANTIQUITY: PRE-ROMAN AND ROMAN MOROCCO, in the 5th century BC Phoenician counters already existed and it is at that time that Hanon the Carthaginian founded new counters on the Moroccan coasts. The Romans succeeded the Carthaginians. Morocco was first united with eastern Mauritania and was entrusted to the romanised Berber prince Juba II in 25 BC. In 42 AD Morocco became a Roman province called «Tingitane Mauritania». It is in Volubilis where you can find the most important remains of the Roman occupation which lasted 5 centuries.
THE VANDALS AND THE BYZANTINES, the decline of the Roman power allowed Vandals and Byzantines to occupy the northern part of the country. Under the reign of Justinian, the Byzantine Empire controlled the Mediterranean coasts of Morocco.
ISLAM, the first Arab expedition led by Oqba Ben Nafi in 680 was very fast. The second one, more final, was the work of Moussa Ben Nosair (703-711).
THE IDRISSIDS -788-974, first Muslim dynasty. Its sovereign was Idriss I, a political refugee from Arabia. He settled in Morocco and founded Fes.
THE ALMORAVIDS - 1055-1147, the first Berber dynasty. It's sovereign was Youssef Ben Tachfine who founded the city of Marrakesh and then took hold of the northern part of Morocco. He entered Spain and imposed his authority on the principalities of the Muslim princes who were allied to the Spanish people.
THE ALMOHADS : «THE UNIFYING DYNASTY» -1147-1268, the Almohads were Berbers. Ibn Toumert played the role of reformer of the morals and preached the war against the Almoravids. His successor. Abdel Moumen founded the greatest Moslem empire that ever existed in Western Africa. Yacoub El Mansour, Abdel Moumen's successor proclaimed himself Sultan of Sevilla. We owe him important architectural works such as the Koutoubia in Marrakesh, Hassan Tower in Rabat and the Giralda in Sevilla.
THE MERINIDS - 1269-1465, they established the borders of Morocco. They conquered several Spanish cities, proclaimed themselves protectors of Letters and Arts and beautified all the main cities of their kingdom.
THE SAADIS - 1549-1654, in the 15th and 16th centuries, the Islamic doctrine deeply affected the minds. The religious sentiment - in contact with the Christians who settled along the coasts of Morocco - got exasperated. The Sultan Ahmed El Mansour organised an expedition to Sudan and he brought back great wealths from Timbuktu : gold and slaves. His capital, Marrakech, was endowed with important constructions. Morocco knew an unprecedented prosperity.
THE ALAOUI DYNASTY, presently reigning. The Alaouis succeeded the Saadis towards the middle of the 17th century. The first Alaouite, Moulay Rachid, took hold of the north of Morocco and made Fes his capital. His successor, Moulay Ismail, a contemporary of Louis XVI, managed after a long reign to pacify and subdue Morocco.
He extended his authority to the Berbers and successfully fought the Turks in Algeria. He managed to occupy Tangier which the English had just left and to take back Mehdia and Larache from Spain. He made Meknes his capital. Several Alaoui sovereigns succeeded Moulay Ismaïl : 1792-1822: Moulay Soulaiman reinforces the dynasty. 1822-1859 : Moulay Abderrahman conquers Tlemcen and helps the Algerians fight the French. 1873-1894 : Moulay Hassan reorganises the artillery and. thanks to the Mekhzen troops, defends the areas which could provide an easy way inside the country. 1906 : The sultan Abdelaziz signs the Algeciras Act which states economic equality of foreign countries in Morocco. 1912 : Moulay Hafid signs the Protectorate Treaty with France, then with Spain. 1956: Mohammed V gives Morocco it's independence. 1961 : The Royal Prince is enthroned under the name of Hassan II. 1975 : Morocco regains control of the Sahara which was under Spanish control.
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