Morocco, western outskirts of the Islamic world, history and geography

Geography of Morocco since antiquity aroused the expansionist appetites of powerful nations. The first known owner of the current land Morocco Carthage (the first millennium BC. Er.). With the II century. BC. er. when Rome defeated Carthage, and to V in. Romans confidently hold their ground in what is now the African Maghreb, including Morocco, and only an invasion of barbarians and the fall of the Roman Empire changed the situation radically. First on was orphaned lands affirmed the Vandals (429), and a hundred years later they became part of the Byzantine Empire. In 682 g of the first attempt to take over North Africa, the Arabs have dared to do. Already in 784 grams of Morocco came first Arab state, and up to XX century. Moroccans living depended on the Arab authorities. Like a pendulum, the country is regularly moved from peak to crisis. It is believed that particularly favorable conditions have developed in Morocco during the reign of Sultan Ahmad Al - Mansur al - Dhahabi in the XVI century. (Died in 1603). Under him the country not only prospered, but quickly grew. As part of the Moroccan government were, in particular the western area of ??Algeria. At the same time gradually retake the coastal town, which belonged mostly to Spanish and Portuguese. However, with the death of the sultan in Morocco once again into chaos. Over time, wishing to seize the lands of North Africa, appeared among the European countries. In the heart of political rivalry between Morocco was in the XIX century. For power in the region at that time claimed by three countries: Spain, England and France (later, in the XX century., North African territories became interested and Germany). A period of colonization of Africa: Spain in 1860 managed to win part of town, formerly part of Morocco, but the best results in competition for control of North Africa has made France. She managed to capture the Sahara, Algeria and Tunisia, and in 1904 a list of African conquest of France to fill up and Morocco. But the colonial French authorities have met strong opposition in Germany to offer support to the Moroccan sultan against claims of France to admit to the management of the country of its advisers. Later, Germany demanded an open international discussion of fundamental issues relating to Morocco, has matured a serious conflict, which in modern historiography is usually called the Tangier Crisis 1905 - 1906 he was forced France to abandon its foreign policy in the Maghreb and agree to the participation of other interested European powers. However, these powers have to agree not very successful. France and Germany were endless arguments about what reforms are needed, Morocco. The last word is left for France (Algiserasskaya Conference 1906 in Spain). By 1911, France and Germany again faced their foreheads: German authorities said the planned construction of a military base in the city of Agadir in the south - west of Morocco. The matter could come before the armed conflict, but the treaty of Fez in 1912, which was forced to sign Germany, finally admitted Morocco a protectorate of France (Germany has received as compensation a part of French Congo). Approximately half of the territory of Morocco is a mountainous land. Country crosses the system of the Atlas Mountains, south of which begin flat area, close to the borders of the state which fades into the Sahara desert land.