A short history
Morocco has been influenced by several civilizations since Antiquity. Each has marked the land with an indelible imprint. This has heritage.
By Nour E. H.

Geography
Morocco, officially the Kingdom of Morocco, is a country located in North Africa with a population of nearly 32 million and an area just under 710.850 square kilometres. Its capital is Rabat and its largest city is Casablanca Le Maroc est situé au Nord-Ouest de l'Afrique. Il est délimité au Nord par le Détroit de Gibraltar et la Mer Méditerranée, au Sud par la Mauritanie, à l'Est par l'Algérie et à l'Ouest par l'Océan Atlantique. La côte marocaine s'étend sur 3500 km. Superficie: 710. 850 km2.

General Census
According to the last Census executed by the High Planning Commission, the Moroccan population number is exceeding 30.000.000.

Tolerance and openness
The different civilizations which have followed on from each other in Morocco have each influenced our identity. This undoubtedly explains the tolerance and open-mindedness of Moroccans. There are no culture clashes here, just meetings and sharing.

Kingdom and dynasties
In 788, Idriss I, contesting the power of Baghdad, founded the Idrisid kingdom in Volubilis. There followed the Almoravid dynasties, the Berber conquerors of the south, then the Almohads whose power extended into Muslim Spain, and finally the Merinids, Berbers from the high plateaus.

Varied heritage
Religious tolerance, Andalusian heritage, and the prosperity of these dynasties created treasures which now constitute the cultural, artistic and architectural richness of the country. From the 16th century, the empires of Arabic, Saadian then Alaouite origin ensured the unity and independence of Morocco. Today, Morocco is ruled by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, crowned on July 30th, 1999; he is the 23rd king in the Alaouite dynasty which came to power at the beginning of the 17th century. The monarchy ensures the unity of the country, and the reign of