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A Look at Morocco Today
Cool Facts About Morocco!
Geography: Morocco is a North
African coastal country aout the size of California. The geography of
the country includes a great expanse of Atlantic coastline as well as
desert, mountains and plains. The scenery of Morocco is a blend of the
African continent, while its monuments reflect the rich and varied
traditions of the Islamic civilization which began its influence in the
year 710. The land was named "el maghreb" by the Arabs which means "the
farthest land of the setting sun", or the far west. Morocco is bounded
by two seas, a mountain chain, and the immensity of the Sahara Desert,
yet it is Europe's nearest neighbor and the most accessible of the
Maghreb countries to visit. Throughout its three-thousand year history,
Morocco has been the most open to the crosscurrents of other
civilizations from the North to the South. Morocco presents a wonderful
variety of geological wonders. The countryside is beautiful, running
along both the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts. Just eight miles from
Spain, Morocco might have lost its soul to Europe - but refused. Though
conquered by Rome and colonized by Spain and France, Moroccans held
fast to their Berber culture, while adopting the Islam religion brought
by the Arabs from the East. 
Climate: The geological
variety of Morocco also gives it a wide range of climate conditions.
The weather in the coastal regions is generally mild but it can become
cool and wet in the north, about 12 C (54° F) in winter, to 25 C (77°
F) in the summer (sometimes higher). In the desert, temperatures can
swing wildly from day to night. This is due to the dryness of the
atmosphere, which has almost no humidity.
History: Morocco is an ancient
country molded by three thousand years of history. As a result of its
unique geographical position, Morocco has been exposed to the
religious, artistic and economic cross currents of the East, Europe and
the depths of Africa. Many countries have, at various times, attempted
to take over Morocco for their own interests. I will mention the most
recent colonization in Morocco's history which covers the period of the
French presence from 1912 to 1956. The French built roads and railways,
developed the port of Casablanca and moved the political capitol to
Rabat. During that era, many Europeans settled in Morocco. By the end
of World War II, strong nationalist sentiment grew and was supported by
the Sultan. In 1955 the French withdrew from Morocco and the Sultan's
son, Hassan II, became King. A constitution was established in 1972,
which allows the many regional areas of the country to represent the
interests of the people. The King, however, remains the ultimate
authority in all matters.
People: Many peoples ~ one
nation. From earliest historical time, Morocco's population has been
essentially Berber; Nomads, semi nomads, and settled farmers. Later
other peoples arrived; the Arabs (who brought the religion of Islam
with them), Andalusians from southern Spain, Jews, Europeans and Black
Africans who intermixed or coexisted with the original Berber
inhabitants. The Berbers inhabit the mountain regions and parts of the
desert. There are roughly three main Berber tribes which are separated
by different dialects. Mohamed is from the High Atlas and speaks
Tachalhit. Little is known of the racial origins of the Berbers. The
word "Berber" comes from an Arabic word possibly borrowed from the
Latin (and ultimately ancient Greek), barbari, signifying the non-Latin
speaking peoples of the Maghreb. The most widely used languages
currently are Arabic, French, Spanish and English.
Customs and
Traditions:
The Berbers have many
different traditions from one to the other. As in most villages,
weddings are looked forward to, but the most famous wedding tradition
takes place in Mohamed's home village of Imilchil. All the young people
who live in the High Atlas mountains come to participate in the
"Moussem". . . a kind of tribal marriage where the brides get to choose
their groom. Other traditions include folkloric festivals and music
performances.
Culture: Morocco has a rich
and varied culture. One can find different lifestyles, crafts,
architecture and dress, all depending on which part of the country you
are in. Soccer is very popular and the national team was good enough to
qualify for the World Cup staged in the U.S.A. in 1994.
Government: Currently Morocco is
ruled by King Hassan II and has a democratic parliamentary government.
King Hassan II has taken many steps to modernize Morocco. Life in the
cities is a harmonious combination of the old and new ways of life. It
is common to see both Western dress and native djellabas as people go
about their daily routines. Many Moroccan women are employed or attend
school. In southern Morocco the lifestyle is more traditional and
employment is generally agricultural.
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