mounir2203
03-15-2008, 08:03 PM
Kingdom of Morocco
The Kingdom of Morocco is situated in North Africa, bounded on the north by the Mediterranean Sea, on the east and southeast by Algeria, on the south by Mauritania, and on the west by the Atlantic Ocean. Within Morocco are exclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, stile under the Spanish colonialisme. The area of Morocco is 685,730 sq km.
Despite Morocco’s Arabic and Islamic heritage, “it is toward the West, more than Arabia or Africa, that Morocco continues to look,” American writer Erla Zwingle concludes in October 1996 National Geographic article.
1-The Moroccan geography
Morocco has the broadest plains and the highest mountains in North Africa. The country has four main natural regions: an area of highlands, called Er Rif, paralleling the Mediterranean coast; the Atlas Mountains, extending across the country in a southwestern to northeastern direction between the Atlantic Ocean and Er Rif, and the plains and valleys south of the Atlas Mountains, which merge with the Sahara along the southeastern borders of the country. Most Moroccans inhabit the Atlantic coastal plain. The highest mountain is Jebel Toubkal (4,165 m/13,665 ft), in the Grand Atlas range. Elevations in Er Rif attain heights of 2,450 m (8,040 ft). Morocco has many rivers, which, although unimportant for navigation, are used for irrigation and for generating electric power. The chief rivers are the Moulouya, which drains into the Mediterranean Sea, and the Sebou, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean.
11- Climate
Along the Mediterranean, Morocco has a subtropical climate, tempered by oceanic influences that give the coastal cities moderate temperatures.
Toward the interior, winters are colder and summers warmer. At high altitudes temperatures of less than -17.8°C (0°F) are not uncommon, and mountain peaks are covered with snow during most of the year. Rain falls mainly during the winter months. Precipitation is heaviest in the northwest and lightest in the east and south.
12- Natural Resources
Morocco’s resources are primarily agricultural, but mineral resources are also significant. Among the latter the most important is phosphate rock; other minerals include coal, iron, lead, manganese, petroleum, silver, tin, and zinc.
13- Plants and Animals
The mountainous regions of Morocco contain extensive areas of forest, including large stands of cork oak, evergreen oak, juniper, cedar, fir, and pine. Except for areas under cultivation, the plains are usually covered with scrub brush and alfa grass. On the plain of Sous, near the southern border, is a large forest of argan, thorny trees found principally in Morocco.
Moroccan wildlife represents a mingling of European and African species. Of the animals characteristic of Europe, the fox, rabbit, otter, and squirrel abound; of predominantly African types, the gazelle, wild boar, panther, baboon, wild goat, and horned viper are common.
2- An Outline Of Moroccan History
The history of the region comprising present-day Morocco has been shaped by the interaction of the original Berber population and the various foreign peoples who successively invaded the country.
The first of the foreign invaders well known to history were the Phoenicians, who in the 12th century BC established trading posts on the Mediterranean coast of the region. These colonies were later taken over and extended by the Carthaginians. The conquest of Carthage by Rome, in the 2nd century BC, led to Roman dominance of the Mediterranean coast of Africa. About AD 42 the northern portion of what is now Morocco was incorporated into the Roman Empire as the province of Mauretania Tingitana. In the Germanic invasions that attended the decline of the Roman Empire, the Vandals in 429 occupied Mauretania Tingitana. The Byzantine general Belisarius defeated the Vandals in 533 and established Byzantine rule in parts of the country.
21- Muslim Conquest
Byzantine rule was ended by the Arabs, who invaded Morocco in 682 in the course of their drive to expand the power of Islam. Except for the Jews, the inhabitants of Morocco, both Christian and pagan, soon accepted the religion of their conquerors. Berber troops were used extensively by the Arabs in their subsequent subjugation of Spain.
The first Arab rulers of the whole of Morocco, the Idrisid dynasty, held power from 789 to 926. The Idrisid was succeeded by other dynasties, both Arab and Berber. Among the most notable were the dynasties of the Almoravids, from 1062 to 1147, and the Almohads.
Morocco experienced a revival under the Saadians, known as the first Sharifian dynasty (1554-1660). The reign (1579-1603) of Ahmed I al-Man-sur is regarded as the golden age of Morocco. The country benefited enormously from the influx of nearly a million Moors and Jews who were expelled from Spain after 1492. It was unified and relatively prosperous; its native arts and architecture flourished.
The Saadians were succeeded by the second Sharifian dynasty, the Alaouite, who have ruled since 1660. This dynasty reached its peak in the reign of Moulaay Ismail
22- European Intrusion
In April 1904, in return for receiving a free hand in Egypt from France, Britain recognized Morocco as a French sphere of interest. Later that year France and Spain divided Morocco into zones of influence, with Spain receiving the much smaller part of Morocco and the region south of Morocco, which would become «*Spanish Sahara*». Imperial Germany soon disputed these arrangements, and a conference of major powers, including the United States, met in Algeciras, Spain, in January 1906, to conclude an agreement. The resultant Act of Algeciras guaranteed equality of economic rights for every nation in Morocco.
In July 1911, the Germans sent a gunboat to the Moroccan port city of Agadir, in a move designed to encourage native resistance to French dominance. This incident provoked French mobilization and brought Europe to the brink of war, but in later negotiations Germany agreed to a French protectorate over Morocco in return for French territorial concessions elsewhere in Africa.
23- Fight for Independence
In 1944, Moroccan nationalists formed the Istiqlal party, which soon won the support of Sultan Muhammed V and the majority of Arabs. however. The French rejected the plea by in 1950 for self-government. The sultan was deposed in August 1953, but in October 1955 the French permitted him to return to his throne.
24- Unification
The French recognized Moroccan independence in March 1956. In April the Spanish government recognized in principle the independence of Spanish Morocco and the unity of the Kingdom.
Sultan Mohammed V assumed the title of king in August 1957. At his death in 1961, the throne passed to his son Hassan II. A royal charter was implemented by Hassan, whereby a constitutional monarchy was established on the approval by referendum of a constitution in December 1962. The nation’s first general elections were held in 1963.
The King Hassan II committed himself to modernate Morocco, and determine to give the country an international re****tion.
Hassan II died in July 1999 and was succeeded by his son Mohammed VI. The new king pledged to continue his father’s policies.
3- The Constitution And Government
Morocco is a hereditary monarchy, governed under a constitution promulgated in 1996. Replacing an amended 1972 constitution.
This existing legislative body was reorganized by the 1996 constitution to become entirely popularly elected. The new constitution also created a second, indirectly elected “advisory” legislative body.
31- Executive
The monarch, who, according to the constitution, must be male, is the head of state of Morocco. He appoints the prime minister and cabinet. He also has the power to call for a reconsideration of legislative measures and to dissolve the legislature. The monarch is commander in chief of the country’s armed forces.
32- Legislature
Under the 1996 constitution, Morocco’s legislature changed from a unicameral house to a bicameral one. The new legislature consists of a 325-member Chamber of Representatives and a 270-member Chamber of Advisers. Members of the Chamber of Representatives are directly elected by universal suffrage to five-year terms. Members of the Chamber of Advisers serve nine-year terms; 60 percent are indirectly elected by local councils, and the remaining 40 percent are selected by representatives of business associations and trade unions. The Chamber of Advisers may initiate legislation on equal footing with the Chamber of Representatives, but the former has the potential decisive advantage of being able to dissolve the government with a two-thirds majority vote. On september 12, and 27 october 2003 Morocco lived the election of these legislative bodies.
33- Political Parties
Morocco has a multiparty political system. Most parties are aligned in three major groupings: The Wifaq bloc consists of pro-government rightist parties, such as the Constitutional Union (UC) and the National Rally of Independents (RNI); the Koutla bloc includes socialist opposition parties, such as the Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP); and a third group is made up of centrist parties.
34- Local Government
Morocco is divided into 16 administrative regions, which are in turn subdivided into 65 provinces and prefectures. The regions are administered by regional councils, whose members are either elected by communal councils or appointed by the minister of the interior. The provinces and prefectures are subdivided into communes.
35- Judiciary
The highest tribunal in Morocco is the Supreme Court, which sits in Rabat. The country also has 15 courts of appeal. Cases involving small sums of money are heard by local tribunals, and more important cases are initiated in regional tribunals. In addition, the country has 14 labor tribunals.
4- Population Characteristics
The estimated population of Morocco in 2001 was 30,645,305, giving the country an overall population density of 67 persons per sq km (172 per sq mi).
41- Religion
Islam is the established state religion of Morocco. Almost the entire population is Sunni Muslim. The monarch is the supreme Muslim authority in the country. About 1 percent of the population is Christian, and less than 0.2 percent is Jewish.
42- Language
The Berber languages, once dominant throughout Morocco, have declined in importance, and in the early 1990s about 25 percent of the people used Berber as their first language. Many of these people also spoke Arabic, the country’s official language, which is the primary language of some 75 percent of the population. Numerous Moroccans also use French and Spanish.
43- Culture
Morocco has felt the influences of several ancient cultures. Excavations have unearthed elements of the Phoenician, Hellenic, Carthaginian, and Roman civilizations. Christianity spread to this region in Roman times and survived the Arab invasion, but Arabic influences, which began in the 7th century, were to prove the strongest. The Arabs brought to Morocco a written language that is still the primary language of business and culture. The western African influence, seen in dances, spread northward with trade. Among more recent influences, the strongest is that of France. Ans Spain.
5- Economy And New Developements
Morocco is primarily an agricultural country, although only 20 percent of the land is cultivated. In 1999 gross domestic product (GDP) was estimated at $35 billion. The government’s budget in 2002 included revenues of $11.6 billion and expenditures of $8 billion.
51- Agriculture
Sheepherding, Morocco Sheep graze on a fertile plateau high in the Atlas Mountains, a range that extends across central Morocco. Morocco has a primarily agricultural economy. More than two-fifths of Morocco’s labor force either grows crops or raises livestock, especially sheep, goats, and cattle.
The principal crops of Morocco are cereals, particularly wheat and barley (2.1 million metric tons in 2000); root crops such as potatoes and sugar beets (1.1 million); vegetables including tomatoes and melons (3.6 million); fruits, particularly grapes and dates (2.5 million); and sugarcane (1.3 million). A wide variety of other fruits and vegetables are also grown. Livestock in 2000 included 16.3 million sheep, 5.7 million goats, and 2.7 million head of cattle.
52- Fishing
The chief fishing centers are Agadir, Safi, Essaouira, and Casablanca. The total catch in 1997 was 785,843 metric tons, including pilchard, tuna, mackerel, anchovies, and shellfish.
53- Manufacturing
Morocco’s manufacturing sector is made up mostly of small-scale enterprises. Construction materials, chemicals, textiles, footwear, processed food, wine, refined petroleum, and many other kinds of goods are produced in Morocco. Artisans produce fabrics, leather goods, ceramics, rugs and carpets, and woodwork of high quality.
54- Energy
Some 84 percent of Morocco’s electricity production in 1998 was generated in thermal plants, and the remainder was produced in hydroelectric facilities. Morocco’s output of electricity in 1999 was 13.7 billion kilowatt-hours.
55- Currency and Banking
Morocco’s unit of currency is the dirham, consisting of 100 centimes 10.65 dirhams equal U.S.$1; 2003 average). It is issued by the Banque al-Maghrib (1959), the state bank. The country also has several large private banks such as BCM, BMCE and BP
56- Foreign Trade
Morocco’s leading exports are phosphates and phosphoric acid. Other exports include citrus fruit, wheat, fish, and minerals. Exports in 1999 earned $7.4 billion. Imports were valued at $10.8 billion. Imports typically consist of industrial equipment, food products, manufactured goods, and fuels. The principal purchasers of Morocco’s exports are France, Spain, Japan, India, Italy, the United States and Canada. Chief sources of imports are are the EU, the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Brazil. Morocco gains much foreign exchange from remittances by Moroccans working abroad and from the expenditures of the large number of tourists who visit the country each year.
6- Conclusion
To conclude, Morocco althought being an underdevelopped country, the latest overwhelming changes in all the fields, will brought this emerging kingdom to an enormous place on the international stage due to the hard working of his king and people.
The Kingdom of Morocco is situated in North Africa, bounded on the north by the Mediterranean Sea, on the east and southeast by Algeria, on the south by Mauritania, and on the west by the Atlantic Ocean. Within Morocco are exclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, stile under the Spanish colonialisme. The area of Morocco is 685,730 sq km.
Despite Morocco’s Arabic and Islamic heritage, “it is toward the West, more than Arabia or Africa, that Morocco continues to look,” American writer Erla Zwingle concludes in October 1996 National Geographic article.
1-The Moroccan geography
Morocco has the broadest plains and the highest mountains in North Africa. The country has four main natural regions: an area of highlands, called Er Rif, paralleling the Mediterranean coast; the Atlas Mountains, extending across the country in a southwestern to northeastern direction between the Atlantic Ocean and Er Rif, and the plains and valleys south of the Atlas Mountains, which merge with the Sahara along the southeastern borders of the country. Most Moroccans inhabit the Atlantic coastal plain. The highest mountain is Jebel Toubkal (4,165 m/13,665 ft), in the Grand Atlas range. Elevations in Er Rif attain heights of 2,450 m (8,040 ft). Morocco has many rivers, which, although unimportant for navigation, are used for irrigation and for generating electric power. The chief rivers are the Moulouya, which drains into the Mediterranean Sea, and the Sebou, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean.
11- Climate
Along the Mediterranean, Morocco has a subtropical climate, tempered by oceanic influences that give the coastal cities moderate temperatures.
Toward the interior, winters are colder and summers warmer. At high altitudes temperatures of less than -17.8°C (0°F) are not uncommon, and mountain peaks are covered with snow during most of the year. Rain falls mainly during the winter months. Precipitation is heaviest in the northwest and lightest in the east and south.
12- Natural Resources
Morocco’s resources are primarily agricultural, but mineral resources are also significant. Among the latter the most important is phosphate rock; other minerals include coal, iron, lead, manganese, petroleum, silver, tin, and zinc.
13- Plants and Animals
The mountainous regions of Morocco contain extensive areas of forest, including large stands of cork oak, evergreen oak, juniper, cedar, fir, and pine. Except for areas under cultivation, the plains are usually covered with scrub brush and alfa grass. On the plain of Sous, near the southern border, is a large forest of argan, thorny trees found principally in Morocco.
Moroccan wildlife represents a mingling of European and African species. Of the animals characteristic of Europe, the fox, rabbit, otter, and squirrel abound; of predominantly African types, the gazelle, wild boar, panther, baboon, wild goat, and horned viper are common.
2- An Outline Of Moroccan History
The history of the region comprising present-day Morocco has been shaped by the interaction of the original Berber population and the various foreign peoples who successively invaded the country.
The first of the foreign invaders well known to history were the Phoenicians, who in the 12th century BC established trading posts on the Mediterranean coast of the region. These colonies were later taken over and extended by the Carthaginians. The conquest of Carthage by Rome, in the 2nd century BC, led to Roman dominance of the Mediterranean coast of Africa. About AD 42 the northern portion of what is now Morocco was incorporated into the Roman Empire as the province of Mauretania Tingitana. In the Germanic invasions that attended the decline of the Roman Empire, the Vandals in 429 occupied Mauretania Tingitana. The Byzantine general Belisarius defeated the Vandals in 533 and established Byzantine rule in parts of the country.
21- Muslim Conquest
Byzantine rule was ended by the Arabs, who invaded Morocco in 682 in the course of their drive to expand the power of Islam. Except for the Jews, the inhabitants of Morocco, both Christian and pagan, soon accepted the religion of their conquerors. Berber troops were used extensively by the Arabs in their subsequent subjugation of Spain.
The first Arab rulers of the whole of Morocco, the Idrisid dynasty, held power from 789 to 926. The Idrisid was succeeded by other dynasties, both Arab and Berber. Among the most notable were the dynasties of the Almoravids, from 1062 to 1147, and the Almohads.
Morocco experienced a revival under the Saadians, known as the first Sharifian dynasty (1554-1660). The reign (1579-1603) of Ahmed I al-Man-sur is regarded as the golden age of Morocco. The country benefited enormously from the influx of nearly a million Moors and Jews who were expelled from Spain after 1492. It was unified and relatively prosperous; its native arts and architecture flourished.
The Saadians were succeeded by the second Sharifian dynasty, the Alaouite, who have ruled since 1660. This dynasty reached its peak in the reign of Moulaay Ismail
22- European Intrusion
In April 1904, in return for receiving a free hand in Egypt from France, Britain recognized Morocco as a French sphere of interest. Later that year France and Spain divided Morocco into zones of influence, with Spain receiving the much smaller part of Morocco and the region south of Morocco, which would become «*Spanish Sahara*». Imperial Germany soon disputed these arrangements, and a conference of major powers, including the United States, met in Algeciras, Spain, in January 1906, to conclude an agreement. The resultant Act of Algeciras guaranteed equality of economic rights for every nation in Morocco.
In July 1911, the Germans sent a gunboat to the Moroccan port city of Agadir, in a move designed to encourage native resistance to French dominance. This incident provoked French mobilization and brought Europe to the brink of war, but in later negotiations Germany agreed to a French protectorate over Morocco in return for French territorial concessions elsewhere in Africa.
23- Fight for Independence
In 1944, Moroccan nationalists formed the Istiqlal party, which soon won the support of Sultan Muhammed V and the majority of Arabs. however. The French rejected the plea by in 1950 for self-government. The sultan was deposed in August 1953, but in October 1955 the French permitted him to return to his throne.
24- Unification
The French recognized Moroccan independence in March 1956. In April the Spanish government recognized in principle the independence of Spanish Morocco and the unity of the Kingdom.
Sultan Mohammed V assumed the title of king in August 1957. At his death in 1961, the throne passed to his son Hassan II. A royal charter was implemented by Hassan, whereby a constitutional monarchy was established on the approval by referendum of a constitution in December 1962. The nation’s first general elections were held in 1963.
The King Hassan II committed himself to modernate Morocco, and determine to give the country an international re****tion.
Hassan II died in July 1999 and was succeeded by his son Mohammed VI. The new king pledged to continue his father’s policies.
3- The Constitution And Government
Morocco is a hereditary monarchy, governed under a constitution promulgated in 1996. Replacing an amended 1972 constitution.
This existing legislative body was reorganized by the 1996 constitution to become entirely popularly elected. The new constitution also created a second, indirectly elected “advisory” legislative body.
31- Executive
The monarch, who, according to the constitution, must be male, is the head of state of Morocco. He appoints the prime minister and cabinet. He also has the power to call for a reconsideration of legislative measures and to dissolve the legislature. The monarch is commander in chief of the country’s armed forces.
32- Legislature
Under the 1996 constitution, Morocco’s legislature changed from a unicameral house to a bicameral one. The new legislature consists of a 325-member Chamber of Representatives and a 270-member Chamber of Advisers. Members of the Chamber of Representatives are directly elected by universal suffrage to five-year terms. Members of the Chamber of Advisers serve nine-year terms; 60 percent are indirectly elected by local councils, and the remaining 40 percent are selected by representatives of business associations and trade unions. The Chamber of Advisers may initiate legislation on equal footing with the Chamber of Representatives, but the former has the potential decisive advantage of being able to dissolve the government with a two-thirds majority vote. On september 12, and 27 october 2003 Morocco lived the election of these legislative bodies.
33- Political Parties
Morocco has a multiparty political system. Most parties are aligned in three major groupings: The Wifaq bloc consists of pro-government rightist parties, such as the Constitutional Union (UC) and the National Rally of Independents (RNI); the Koutla bloc includes socialist opposition parties, such as the Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP); and a third group is made up of centrist parties.
34- Local Government
Morocco is divided into 16 administrative regions, which are in turn subdivided into 65 provinces and prefectures. The regions are administered by regional councils, whose members are either elected by communal councils or appointed by the minister of the interior. The provinces and prefectures are subdivided into communes.
35- Judiciary
The highest tribunal in Morocco is the Supreme Court, which sits in Rabat. The country also has 15 courts of appeal. Cases involving small sums of money are heard by local tribunals, and more important cases are initiated in regional tribunals. In addition, the country has 14 labor tribunals.
4- Population Characteristics
The estimated population of Morocco in 2001 was 30,645,305, giving the country an overall population density of 67 persons per sq km (172 per sq mi).
41- Religion
Islam is the established state religion of Morocco. Almost the entire population is Sunni Muslim. The monarch is the supreme Muslim authority in the country. About 1 percent of the population is Christian, and less than 0.2 percent is Jewish.
42- Language
The Berber languages, once dominant throughout Morocco, have declined in importance, and in the early 1990s about 25 percent of the people used Berber as their first language. Many of these people also spoke Arabic, the country’s official language, which is the primary language of some 75 percent of the population. Numerous Moroccans also use French and Spanish.
43- Culture
Morocco has felt the influences of several ancient cultures. Excavations have unearthed elements of the Phoenician, Hellenic, Carthaginian, and Roman civilizations. Christianity spread to this region in Roman times and survived the Arab invasion, but Arabic influences, which began in the 7th century, were to prove the strongest. The Arabs brought to Morocco a written language that is still the primary language of business and culture. The western African influence, seen in dances, spread northward with trade. Among more recent influences, the strongest is that of France. Ans Spain.
5- Economy And New Developements
Morocco is primarily an agricultural country, although only 20 percent of the land is cultivated. In 1999 gross domestic product (GDP) was estimated at $35 billion. The government’s budget in 2002 included revenues of $11.6 billion and expenditures of $8 billion.
51- Agriculture
Sheepherding, Morocco Sheep graze on a fertile plateau high in the Atlas Mountains, a range that extends across central Morocco. Morocco has a primarily agricultural economy. More than two-fifths of Morocco’s labor force either grows crops or raises livestock, especially sheep, goats, and cattle.
The principal crops of Morocco are cereals, particularly wheat and barley (2.1 million metric tons in 2000); root crops such as potatoes and sugar beets (1.1 million); vegetables including tomatoes and melons (3.6 million); fruits, particularly grapes and dates (2.5 million); and sugarcane (1.3 million). A wide variety of other fruits and vegetables are also grown. Livestock in 2000 included 16.3 million sheep, 5.7 million goats, and 2.7 million head of cattle.
52- Fishing
The chief fishing centers are Agadir, Safi, Essaouira, and Casablanca. The total catch in 1997 was 785,843 metric tons, including pilchard, tuna, mackerel, anchovies, and shellfish.
53- Manufacturing
Morocco’s manufacturing sector is made up mostly of small-scale enterprises. Construction materials, chemicals, textiles, footwear, processed food, wine, refined petroleum, and many other kinds of goods are produced in Morocco. Artisans produce fabrics, leather goods, ceramics, rugs and carpets, and woodwork of high quality.
54- Energy
Some 84 percent of Morocco’s electricity production in 1998 was generated in thermal plants, and the remainder was produced in hydroelectric facilities. Morocco’s output of electricity in 1999 was 13.7 billion kilowatt-hours.
55- Currency and Banking
Morocco’s unit of currency is the dirham, consisting of 100 centimes 10.65 dirhams equal U.S.$1; 2003 average). It is issued by the Banque al-Maghrib (1959), the state bank. The country also has several large private banks such as BCM, BMCE and BP
56- Foreign Trade
Morocco’s leading exports are phosphates and phosphoric acid. Other exports include citrus fruit, wheat, fish, and minerals. Exports in 1999 earned $7.4 billion. Imports were valued at $10.8 billion. Imports typically consist of industrial equipment, food products, manufactured goods, and fuels. The principal purchasers of Morocco’s exports are France, Spain, Japan, India, Italy, the United States and Canada. Chief sources of imports are are the EU, the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Brazil. Morocco gains much foreign exchange from remittances by Moroccans working abroad and from the expenditures of the large number of tourists who visit the country each year.
6- Conclusion
To conclude, Morocco althought being an underdevelopped country, the latest overwhelming changes in all the fields, will brought this emerging kingdom to an enormous place on the international stage due to the hard working of his king and people.