See also c
hristianity
and
islam
;
Flag
;
holi
-
days
;
idolatry
; J
Udaism
and
i
slam
.
Further reading: David King, “Science in the Service
of Religion: The Case of Islam.” Impact of Science
on Society 159 (1990): 245–262; Paul Lunde, “Pat-
terns of Moon, Patterns of Sun.” Saudi Aramco World
55 (November–December 2004): 17–32; Annemarie
Schimmel, And Muhammad Is His Messenger: The Ven-
eration of the Prophet in Islamic Piety (Chapel Hill: Uni-
versity of North Carolina Press, 1985).
Morocco
Located on the northwestern tip of Africa, Morocco
is a country roughly the size of California, with
geographical features and a population size (34.3
million, 2008 est.) also similar to those of Ameri-
ca’s most populous state. Morocco’s Atlantic coast
stretches from the Strait of Gibraltar to the Canary
Islands, and extends even further if one includes
the Western Sahara (a disputed territory adminis-
tered by the Moroccan government since 1975).
The northern, eastern, and southern regions con-
tain several mountain ranges, including the Rif,
High Atlas, Middle Atlas, and Anti-Atlas. The
country’s climate is semi-arid, with deserts in
the south and the east. Between the Middle Atlas
and the Atlantic are Morocco’s most fertile lands,
including the Sebou valley, home to the cities of
Meknes and F
ez
. Along with Marrakech, these
cities represent three of Morocco’s four “imperial
cities
,” with each serving as the country’s capital
at different historical periods. In the 20th century,
The town of Chefchaouen in Morocco’s Rif Mountains, founded in the 15th century
(Federico R. Campo)
K 480
Morocco
these cities have been supplanted in importance
by the Atlantic cities of Rabat and Casablanca,
Morocco’s modern capital and its major industrial
center. Traditionally, Morocco’s economy has been
derived from agriculture, mineral wealth (phos-
phates, iron ore, manganese), and participation in
the historical trans-Saharan caravan trade.
In ancient times, Morocco was loosely con-
nected with the Roman Empire, but the area was
conquered by the Arabs in the late seventh century.
Morocco’s indigenous peoples, the b
erber
s, fought
to maintain their autonomy, but they eventually
adopted Islam. Early Moroccan dynasties ruled
over the Western Sahara (the a
lmoravid
dynasty
,
1042–1147), central North Africa (the a
lmohad
dynasty
, 1123–1269), or Islamic Spain (a
nda
-
lUsia
, both dynasties), and were led by Berber
families who legitimized their reign through a
rab
Islamic culture. Under Merinid rule (1248–1465),
Fez became one of the glorious cities of Islam
and a renowned center of learning. During the
16th century, political leadership passed to shari-
fian dynasties claiming descent from the prophet
Muhammad (the Saadis, 1511–1659, and the
Alawis, 1664–present). Under increasing pressure
from Western powers, Morocco became a French
protectorate in 1912, although the Alawi sultan
was allowed to maintain his position under French
control. Morocco achieved independence in 1956,
after a long anticolonial struggle. The current
king, Muhammad VI, rules over a constitutional
monarchy that shares some limited power with a
bicameral legislature, elected by the public.
The official language of Morocco is Arabic,
although French is widely spoken, as are several
Berber languages (Tamazight, Tachelhit, and Tari-
fit). The population is 99 percent Sunni Muslim,
with a small number of Christians (mostly foreign)
and Jews. Sufi movements have exerted extensive
influence, with the largest orders being the Tijani-
yya, Shadiliyya, and the Qadariyya. Tombs of Sufi
saints, located throughout the country, represent
pilgrimage sites and centers for annual festivals.
The sharifian cult is based in the northern cities
of Fez and Mulay Idris, the latter named after the
founder of Morocco’s first Islamic dynasty. Moroc-
can Islam has traditionally followed Maliki reli-
gious law. a
rt
,
architectUre
,
mUsic
, and culture
combine Berber, Arab, and Andalusian themes,
although the influence of European styles has
become much more visible in recent years.
See also
colonialism
; m
aliki
l
egal
s
chool
.
Stephen Cory
Do'stlaringiz bilan baham: 
