The Sultanate of Morocco

Starting Resource: 15 -- From Land: 12 -- From Trade: 3 Capital Territory: Marrakesh Nation Class: Small Total Starting Military Infantry: 12 Cavalry: 3 Knights: 0 Artillery: 0 Generals: 1 Merchantmen: 1 Frigates: 1 Ships of the Line: 0

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North Africa and Morocco were slowly drawn into the wider emerging Mediterranean world by Phoenician trading colonies and settlements in the late Classical period. The first Mediterranean super power to dominate North Africa was the trade empire of Carthage, who came to control much of western North Africa in the periods between the first and second Punic Wars. The region came under direct and indirect control of the Roman Empire after Rome's defeat and subsequent conquest of Carthage in the 2nd and 3rd Punic Wars. It remained a vaulable province within the empire for the next 500 years. In the 5th century AD, as the Roman Empire declined, the region fell to the Vandals, Visigoths, and then Byzantine Greeks in rapid succession. During this time, however, the high mountains of most of modern Morocco remained unsubdued, and stayed in the hands of their Berber inhabitants. Arabs invaded what became modern Morocco in the seventh century, bringing their civilization and Islam, to which most of the Berbers converted, forming states such as the Kingdom of Nekor. The country soon broke away from the control of the distant Abbasid caliphs in Baghdad under Idris ibn Salih who founded the Idrisid Dynasty. Morocco became a centre of learning and a major regional power. After the Islamic conquests in Iberia, eventually the Almoravid dynasty had come to power in Morocco and had extended its control over the various Islamic factions in Spain. Hence began a long confrontation between the Christian kingdoms in Iberia and Morocco. By 1483 Morocco has lost all influence in Iberia and the only Islamic kingdom that remains is the independant Sultanate of Grenada. Morocco is a much smaller nation than it had been during the hieght of Almoravid power and now starts in a vulnerable position. Expansion in North Africa will mean direct conflict with the Hasfid Caliphate, amother small power of near equal power. Expansion nearly anywhere else will mean the construction of a fleet and solid alliances with other European powers. Visit the 1483 Discussion Forums to chat about Morocco.