Morocco

Where the name comes from

Morocco comes through Portuguese Marrocos from Marrakesh, a former capital; its Amazigh name is usually explained as “land of God”.

First people

Amazigh communities lived here long before Arabic spread, and fossils at Jebel Irhoud are among the oldest known Homo sapiens, about 300,000 years old.^1,2

Known for

Morocco is known for its old medinas such as Fez and Marrakesh, its souks and its tagines; its constitution recognizes both Arabic and Amazigh as official languages.^3,4

Outside contact

The Arab conquests of the late 600s were followed by Amazigh and Arab dynasties; French and Spanish protectorates began in 1912.¹

The modern country

Independence came in 1956, and Spain handed over Ifni in 1969.¹