Morocco, a North African country bordering the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, is distinguished by its Berber, Arabian, and European cultural influences. Marrakesh’s medina, a mazelike medieval quarter, offers entertainment in its Djemaa el-Fna square and souks (marketplaces) selling ceramics, jewelry, and metal lanterns. The capital Rabat’s Kasbah of the Udayas is a 12th-century royal fort overlooking the water. Morocco spans from the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean on the north and the west respectively, into large mountainous areas in the interior body, to the Sahara Desert in the far south. Morocco is a Northern African country, located in the extreme northwest of Africa on the edge of continental Europe.
Key Cities
Key cities in Morocco include Casablanca, Fez, Tangier, Marrakesh, Sale, Meknes, Rabat, Oujda, Kenitra, Agadir.
Historical, Cultural facts & Religion
The recorded history of Morocco begins with the Phoenician colonization of the Moroccan coast between the 8th and 6th centuries BCE, although the area was inhabited by indigenous Berbers for some two thousand years before that. Half a century later, the Moroccan state was established by the Idrisid dynasty. The culture of Morocco reflects the Berber and Arab influences represented by its population. The majority of Morocco’s population identifies as Berber and Arab. Following the Islamic conquests, Arab tribes came to Morocco and settled in the low regions, such as Tadla and Doukkala.
Brief Country History
The Berbers entered Moroccan history toward the end of the 2nd millennium B.C. when they made initial contact with oasis dwellers on the steppe who may have been the remnants of the earlier savanna people. Before the 12th century B.C., the Phoenician traders entered the western Mediterranean who set up depots for salt and ore along the coast and up the rivers of the territory that is now Morocco. Then Carthage developed commercial relations with the Berber tribes of the interior and paid them an annual tribute to ensure their cooperation in the exploitation of raw materials. Carthage had extended its dominance across much of North Africa in the 5th century. The Berber kings ruled in the shadow of Carthage and Rome, often as satellites. When Carthage falls, the Roman Empire took over the country in 40 A.D. Vandals, Visigoths, and then Byzantine Greeks conquered the region in the 5th century.
Christianity was introduced in the 2nd century and gained converts in the towns and among slaves and Berber farmers. The Romanized areas had been Christianized and inroads had been made as well among the Berber tribes in the end of the 4th century.
In the 7th century, the Arabs conquered the region and bringing their civilization and Islam, to which many of the Berbers converted. It is the Arab governor Musa Ibn Nasr who had taken control over the central regions or Morocco.
In 1248, one of the local tribes, the Merenids, conquers Fez; before they set out to seize Marrakech. The Merenids lose to Saadiens, and Morocco experienced a revival for the next century.
In 1904, the French made an agreement with the United Kingdom and Italy on spheres of influence over Africa, leaving Morocco within the control of France. In March 1956, France, which is fully engaged in the war against the nationalists of Algeria, gives full independence to Morocco. Sultan Muhammad V takes over the country more united than most of his predecessors did.
Language (s) Written & Spoken
The two official languages are Modern Standard Arabic and Berber. Moroccan Arabic (known as Darija) is the spoken native vernacular. The languages of prestige in Morocco are Arabic in its Classical and Modern Standard Forms and French, the latter of which serves as a second language for many Moroccans.
Important Types of Commerce in Morocco
Morocco is a North African nation that occupies an area of about 274,460 square miles and was home to 35,740,000 people as of 2017. According to Trading Economics, the gross domestic product of Morocco was estimated to be $109.14 billion in 2017 which was a significant increase from 2016 when the gross domestic product was determined to be $103.61 billion. In 2014, Morocco’s gross domestic product was estimated to be $109.88 billion, the highest in the country’s history. The World Economic Forum considered Morocco to be North Africa’s most competitive economy from 2014 to 2015. In 2017, Morocco’s gross domestic product was the seventh highest in Africa. During the 1960s the government of Morocco introduced plans to stimulate economic growth by modernizing the agricultural sector. The plan was moderately successful, and the government introduced further strategies to boost other areas of the economy. Apart from agriculture, other sectors that the government wanted to focus on included tourism and manufacturing. In 1993, the Moroccan government implemented a policy that ensured the liberalization of the economy which resulted in significant economic growth. Due to Morocco’s economic growth, it is considered one of Africa’s most dominant economies. Some of Morocco’s most important industries include agriculture, tourism, and mining.
Economic Growth in Morocco
The government of Morocco has put in place several plans to ensure that the country experiences continuous economic growth. The Moroccan government has partnered with the World Bank to ensure job creation and improved living standards for the Moroccan people. Experts believe that the policies that the Moroccan government has put in place will ensure economic growth in the country.
Language Services US and others will provide working with Morocco
Morocco is building its relations with the international community. It is extremely important for those wishing to enter into the Moroccan market to gain a thorough knowledge of the country and its particular language. Not knowing the Arabic language will leave you with the inability of doing business in this country. Professional language services can help you bridge the language gap and successfully penetrate the market with confidence. Many of the world’s best technology, engineering, biomedical, and pharmaceutical companies’ partners with professional language services company for their translation, transcription and interpretation need.
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