Morocco — books & literature

The story of Morocco

Morocco's story stretches from Berber (Amazigh) kingdoms and the Roman-era city of Volubilis through the arrival of Islam in the 8th century, when Idris I founded the Idrisid dynasty in 788 CE, the first Islamic state in the region, and his son Idris II built up Fez as a capital of scholarship. Successive Berber dynasties -- the Almoravids, who founded Marrakesh in the 11th century, and the Almohads, who ruled a vast empire across the Maghreb and Muslim Spain -- carried Moroccan power and architecture across three continents. In 859, Fatima al-Fihri founded the University of Al Qarawiyyin in Fez, still recognised as the oldest continually operating university on Earth. The Alaouite dynasty, which still reigns today, took power in 1666 under Sultan Moulay al-Rashid. Morocco resisted Ottoman rule, remaining one of the few independent Islamic states in the region for centuries, until European pressure led to French and Spanish protectorates in 1912. Independence returned on 2 March 1956, and the country has since balanced monarchy, Islam, and a mix of Arab and Amazigh identity. Under King Mohammed VI, who ascended in 1999, Morocco has pursued modernisation, constitutional reform, and a renewed role bridging Africa, the Arab world, and Europe.

Timeline — key moments

1. 788

   Idris I founds the Idrisid dynasty at Volubilis, the first Islamic state in Morocco.

2. circa 789

   Idris I founds the city of Fez, later developed by his son Idris II into a centre of scholarship.

3. 859

   Fatima al-Fihri founds the University of Al Qarawiyyin in Fez, the oldest continually operating university in the world.

4. circa 1070

   The Almoravid dynasty founds Marrakesh as its capital.

5. 1147

   The Almohad dynasty captures Marrakesh, ruling an empire across the Maghreb and Muslim Spain.

6. 1666

   Sultan Moulay al-Rashid establishes the Alaouite dynasty, Morocco's ruling family today.

7. 1912

   Treaty of Fez establishes French and Spanish protectorates over Morocco.

8. 1956

   Independence from France (2 March) and Spain (7 April).

9. 1975

   The Green March asserts Moroccan claims over Western Sahara.

10. 1999

    Mohammed VI ascends to the throne, pursuing modernisation and reform.

Top 10 things to know about Morocco

1. Morocco is home to the world's oldest continually operating university, founded in Fez in 859 CE.
2. Marrakesh's medina and souks are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
3. Morocco has both Atlantic and Mediterranean coastlines.
4. The Sahara desert stretches across southern Morocco, with iconic dunes near Merzouga.
5. Casablanca, not Rabat, is Morocco's largest city and economic hub.
6. Arabic and Tamazight (Berber) are both official languages; French and Spanish are widely spoken.
7. The Atlas Mountains run diagonally across the country, separating the Sahara from the coast.
8. Chefchaouen, the "Blue City," is famous worldwide for its blue-painted streets and buildings.
9. Morocco was never part of the Ottoman Empire, unlike its North African neighbours.
10. Moroccan cuisine -- tagine, couscous, and mint tea -- is one of the world's great culinary traditions.

Famous people from Morocco

Say it in Morocco's language

Did you know?

• ★Chefchaouen's streets and buildings have been painted blue for generations, with theories ranging from insect repellent to spiritual symbolism.
• ★Casablanca, Morocco's largest city, has never been the capital -- that role belongs to Rabat.
• ★The Sahara Desert covers roughly the southern half of Morocco, reaching the edge of towns like Merzouga.

Morocco culture

• Mint tea, sometimes called "Moroccan whisky," is a hospitality ritual poured from a height into small glasses.
• Tagine, a slow-cooked stew named after the conical clay pot it is cooked in, is a cornerstone of Moroccan cuisine.
• Gnawa music, a UNESCO-recognised spiritual tradition rooted in trans-Saharan heritage, blends ritual, rhythm, and trance.
• Ramadan and Eid are celebrated widely, with family iftar gatherings marking the breaking of the fast.

Why read Morocco's books

Moroccan literature spans centuries of Arabic and Amazigh oral tradition, French-language fiction born of the colonial era, and a new generation of Moroccan novelists writing across languages and continents -- read on for the shelf.