Morocco
Morocco, officially the Kingdom of Morocco, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It overlooks the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and has land borders with Algeria to the east, and the disputed territory of Western Sahara to the south. Morocco also claims the Spanish exclaves of Ceuta, Melilla and Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera, and several small Spanish-controlled islands off its coast. It has a population of roughly 37 million, the official and predominant religion is Islam, and the official languages are Arabic and Berber; French and the Moroccan dialect of Arabic are also widely spoken. Moroccan identity and culture is a mix of Arab, Berber, African and European cultures. Its capital is Rabat, while its largest city is Casablanca.
Some of the key events about Morocco
- 788The founding of the city of Fez, which became a major cultural and intellectual center
- 1062Establishment of the Almoravid dynasty, which expanded Moroccan influence across North Africa and parts of Spain
- 1631Completion of the El Badi Palace in Marrakesh, a masterpiece of Saadian architecture
- 1777Morocco became the first country to recognize the United States as an independent nation
- 1912Establishment of the French Protectorate, which brought modernization and infrastructure development
- 1912Morocco became a French protectorate, losing its independence
- 1921The Rif War began, resulting in thousands of casualties
- 1953The Sultan of Morocco was exiled by French authorities, sparking widespread protests
- 1956Morocco gained independence from France, marking the end of colonial rule
- 1975The Green March, a peaceful mass demonstration to claim the Western Sahara
- 1975The "Green March" into Western Sahara led to a long-standing territorial dispute
- 1981Riots broke out in Casablanca over economic issues, resulting in hundreds of deaths
- 1994A severe drought affected agricultural production and the economy
- 1996The adoption of a new constitution that expanded democratic rights and civil liberties
- 2003Terrorist bombings in Casablanca killed 45 people and injured over 100
- 2004Implementation of the Mudawana, a progressive family code that improved women's rights
- 2004A major earthquake near Al Hoceima killed over 600 people and left thousands homeless
- 2010Widespread protests erupted as part of the Arab Spring movement
- 2016Morocco hosted the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP22) in Marrakech
- 2018Two Scandinavian tourists were murdered by extremists in the Atlas Mountains
Disclaimer: This material is written based on information taken from open sources, including Wikipedia, news media, podcasts, and other public sources.
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