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The history of Marrakech

The history of Marrakech

  • Marrakech or Amur N Akush is a city in the Western part of Atlas Mountains. It is one of the four Imperial cities of Morocco. Also, it is the Fourth biggest City in Morocco after Casablanca, Fes, Rabat-Sale Metropolitan.
  • The origin name is Amur N Akush, which is an Amazigh (Berber) name, and it means Land God. It was given this name by the founders of Marrakech in the 11th Century.
  • Marrakech attracted many writers and artists, especially from Andalusia, including the famous philosopher Averroes of Cordoba.

Almoravids Era

  • Marrakech was the imperial Capital of the Almoravid empire in the 11th Century, 1062 to be exact. It was founded by a Man called Ibn Yassin. He was from Sahara Desert. So, he used to trade between Morocco and other African countries, especially, Timbuktu in Mali and Sudan using Camel caravans in order to cross the largest and hottest Sahara Desert in the World.
  • So, the Almoravids had an empire which stretched from Mauritania, Algeria and Morocco to South of Spain and Portugal.
  • The Almoravids built constructed many Madrasas (Quranic schools) and Mosques that bears Andalusian influences.
  • The walls of the Old Medina were built by Ali Ibn Yussuf in 1122-1123.

Almohads Era

  • The Almohads, took the city in 1147 under the leader Abd El Mumen.
  • The Almohads built a range of places and religious buildings, including the famous Kotoubia mosque (1184-1199) and built upon the ruins of an Almoravid palace. the Mosque has the same designer as the Giralda in Seveille, Spain and The Hassan tower mosque in Rabat.

The sightseeing you don’t have to miss in Marrakech:

The history of Marrakech compromises the following sightseeing’s:

  • Jamaa EL Fna Square:
    • It is a square and marketplace in the heart of the old Medina.
    • It is one of the most crowded squares in Africa.
    • In there where storytellers, musicians, Snake charmers, orange juice stalls, and dancers take place.
  • Kotobia Mosque:
    • it was established in (1184_1199).
    • It has the same design as La Girald in Seveille and Hassan Tower in Rabat.
    • It was built by the Almohads dynasty upon the rouins of the Almoravids Palace.
  • The Bahia Palace:
    • It was built by Ahmed Ben Moussa, who was the Grand vizier of the Sultan, in the late of 19th century.
    • The palace would bear the name of one of Ahmed’s wives Bahia, which means Brilliance.
    • It was intended to be the greatest palace in its time with Moroccan and Islamic Architecture.
  • Ben Youssef Medrasa:
    • It was founded by the Almoravid sultan Ali iBn Youssef ( 1106-1142).
    • It was an Islamic College and at the same time the main Mosque of the City at that time. Nowadays, it is functioning as a historical site.
    • During the Almoravid era (11th century), it was used as a Mosque. Later on, it was used by the Marinid (1331-1348) as a school.
    • Its ornamentation contains Andalusian architecture.
  • Majorel Gardens:
    • It is a botanical garden which was established by Jacque Majorelle who was a French orientalist.
    • It took him 40 years in order to establish the garden, starting 1923 to 1950s.
    • The garden contains a Berber(Amazigh) Museum which displays Berber Culture.
  • Saadien Tombs:
  • Gueliz: