Morocco is an incredibly diverse country, both historically and geographically.

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Early Peoples                                                                        James Cooper

Morocco is an incredibly diverse country, both historically and geographically. While it is without a doubt part of Africa, its location at the very northwestern tip has to some extent seperated it from the rest of continent. The climate of the north is very different from the south. Here the mediterranean influence is distinct. Lush valleys with fig trees, ancient cobblestone streets, and ‘european’ weather mark this part of the country. On the Atlantic coast there is a fertile plain. Much of the central part of the country is fertile as well, with widespread agriculture. Moving south everything changes. Farmland gives way to desert and the towering Atlas mountains begin to appear. The Atlas range is one of the highest in Africa, with an average elevation of 11,000 feet. It marks the border with Algeria, and for many years has protected Morrocco from the political tumult in that country. Both the mountains and the desolate sahara have at times acted as geographical barriers and impediments to movement. The have also, however, been at times great assetts strategically and in trade.

Its location directly across the strait of gibraltar, only 6 miles from Spain, made Morocco a prime jumping off point for European explorers looking to infiltrate the continent. Indeed, throughout the ages Morrocco has been such a target for foreign interest that its history reads like a history of the entire region – from Phoenicians to Greeks, Romans, Christians and Arabs, every culture of note has had some influence on the country.

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The first people to inhabit the area were the Berbers. It is tempting to call them natives, but most likely they are not indigineous. Most books say the Berbers appeared around the second millenium B.C but fail to mention where they came from. In any case, the Berbers had developed their own language and culture long before the Arabs or Europeans arrived. Their language is Tamazight, in which they refer to themselves as Amazigh or “free men”. The word ‘Berber’ is a Greek invention meaning barbarian or foreigner. I will use it in this paper because its easier to ...

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