Medieval territorial expansion in Morocco
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[edit] Beginnings (787-807 C.E)
As a Shi'i refugee, Moulay Idriss starts his campaign in 787 willing to try to unite the Moroccan scattered states. With this he created a a dynasty known as the Idrissid dynasty which also becomes among the first line of kings ever created in Morocco. Moulay Idriss himself died 4 years after he started his campaigning.
His son, however, Moulay Idriss II was as capable as a ruler as his father who, during his 20 year long reign, extended Morrocan territory to the Atlas mountains in the North to a key Oasis in the South. He also centralized the empire by making Fez as his capital. But after his death, despite his efforts, Morocco divided into a series of small states.
[edit] Time of International Importance and Strength (1062-1012 C.E)
Morocco is united by a Berber dynasty, Almoravids, who were descendants from present-day Mauritania. The unification occurred in 1062 which lasted for 83 years. The Almoravids proved to be highly successful in extending the territory which stretched from the South of the Sahara to Libya. In 1090, ruler Yousef shrewdly gains control of the Iberian Peninsula. But this capture led to an overstraining of the Moroccan army which caused the beginning of the decline of the Almoravids.
A new Berber dynasty appeared to dominate the area, the Amohad dynasty which was founded by Ibn Tumart who claimed to be the last prophet of Islam also claiming that the Almoravids were following an incorrect theology of Islam. The three following extend Almohad power by capturing key cities such as Marrakech and by securing control over the Southern part of the Iberian peninsula.
