|
The kingdom of Morocco is an independent monarchy, situated in North Africa and
separated into 37 provinces. The current gene of Morocco is a collection of ethnic
groups along with Berbers, Arabs, Phoenicians, Sephardic Jews, and sub- Saharan
Africans.
Christianity was introduced in the second century in Morocco and it saw lot
of converts among slaves and Berbers. The Romanized areas had been Christianized
by the end of the 4th century. Around the same time, schismatic and heretical
movements also developed in the form of political protest. Morocco also had
a substantial Jewish population during that time.
The Arabs came and conquered the region in the 7th century. Thus began their
civilization and education of Islam, which most of the Berbers accepted. Arab
conquerors converted the indigenous Berber population to Islam, but Berber tribes
retained their customary laws.
The Arabs abhorred the Berbers as barbarians and Berbers described Arabs as
arrogant and brutal. Once established as Muslims, the Berbers shaped Islam in
their own way and embraced schismatic Muslim sects. In the year 1955, king Mohammed
V of Morocco successfully negotiated the gradual restoration of Moroccan independence
within a framework of French-Moroccan interdependence.
The sultan instituted certain reforms that transformed Morocco into a constitutional
monarchy with a democratic form of government. Morocco finally acquired limited
home rule in February 1956. Further negotiations took place for full independence
that culminated in the French-Moroccan Agreement signed in Paris on March 2,
1956. On April 7of that year France officially relinquished its protectorate
in Morocco.
|