The indigineous people of the area were the Berbers however, with the strategic position on the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts, it has been under the control of others for most of the last 2,000 years. Initially a trading outpost of the Phoenicians it then became part of the Roman empire in 44 AD under Emperor Claudius. After the fall of the Roman Empire, there was a period of local rule before coming under Byzantine control in 530 AD. In the seventh century the area was conquered by Arabs who bought Islam with them. The Berbers converted but retained their own customs and language. In the 15th century Morocco accepted Jewish refugees who fled Spain with the Inquisition. They were allowed to live freely and all major cities had a Jewish district known as the Mellah – the Arabic word for salt, for which the Jewish community were given responsibilities.
The current King Mohammed VI of the Alawi dynasty is the grandson of Mohammed V who led independence from the French in 1956, following a period since 1912 of being a French Protectorate.
The country has been relatively stable since independence, however there have been issues over corruption, the control of Western Sahara and political refugees.
The country is now a constitutional monachy with a billionaire President and a billionaire King. It is a relatively liberal Islamic state. It has no oil or gas but is developing wind and solar energy sources, using Chinese technology. Phosphate mining, agricultue and a growing tourism sector are the main drivers of the economy.
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