By: Anthony Gros & Benjamin Brock Morocco By: Anthony Gros & Benjamin Brock

Morocco’s Map The Capital of Morocco is Rabat, the largest city is Casablanca

Morocco's Flag Morocco's flag is red with a green pentacle known as sulayman’s Red and green are traditional colors in Arab flags Although the use of red is more commonly associated with the Arab states of Persian Gulf The morocco flag was made in 1915

Morocco’s Population The estimated population of Morocco in 1997 was 28,564,572, giving the country an overall population density of 62 persons per sq km (161 per sq mi). The original population of Morocco was Berber and about three-quarters of all present-day. Moroccans are of Berber descent. Arabs, who constitute the bulk of the inhabitants of the larger cities, form the second largest ethnic group. Considerable intermarriage among Arabs, Berbers, and the country´s small number of black Africans has broken down differences among ethnic groups. Morocco has about 100,000 Europeans, most of them French. The rural population in 1996 was 51 percent of the country´s total.

Moroccan Currency The Moroccan Dirham is a floting currency, subdivided into 100 centimes. In various parts of Morocco you may hear prices quoted in francs, pesetas, or rials, units of currency used during colonial periods.

Morocco's Religion Islam is the established state religion of Morocco. Almost the entire population is Sunni Muslim. The monarch is the supreme Muslim authority in the country. About 1 percent of the population is Christian, and less than 0.2 percent is Jewish.

Morocco Economy Tourism and workers' remittances have played a critical role since independence. The production of textiles and clothing is part of a growing manufacturing sector that accounted for approximately 34% of total exports in 2002, employing 40% of the industrial workforce. The government wishes to increase textile and clothing exports from $1.27 billion in 2001 to $3.29 billion in 2010.

Morocco’s Culture Morocco, about one-tenth larger than California, lies across the Strait of Gibraltar on the Mediterranean and looks out on the Atlantic from the northwest shoulder of Africa. Algeria is to the east and Mauritania to the south. On the Atlantic coast there is a fertile plain. The Mediterranean coast is mountainous. The Atlas Mountains, running northeastward from the south to the Algerian frontier, average 11,000 ft (3,353 m) in elevation. Morocco has been the home of the Berbers since the second millennium B.C. In A.D. 46, Morocco was annexed by Rome as part of the province of Mauritania until the Vandals overran this portion of the declining empire in the 5th century.

Moroccan Traditions It has often been said that the people are the pulse of a nation. The rich culture and diversity of Morocco is reflected in every inch of the vibrant nation that trade frantically and enthusiastically in the bustling streets as songs of worship ring out overhead. These people have a long and fascinating heritage and though they've slowly started to embrace the modernizing of their world; there is a sort of captivated timelessness which still hangs over them all.

Morocco’s Geography Morocco, about one-tenth larger than California, lies across the Strait of Gibraltar on the Mediterranean and looks out on the Atlantic from the northwest shoulder of Africa. Algeria is to the east and Mauritania to the south. On the Atlantic coast there is a fertile plain. The Mediterranean coast is mountainous. The Atlas Mountains, running northeastward from the south to the Algerian frontier, average 11,000 ft (3,353 m) in elevation.

Moroccan History The Berbers, the earliest known inhabitants of Morocco, suffered successive waves of invaders in ancient times: the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans (1st century BC ), Vandals (5th century AD ), and finally the Byzantines (6th century). In 682, when the Arabs swept through North Africa, Okba (Uqba ibn-Nefi) conquered Morocco. Under successive Moorish dynasties, beginning with Idris I (Idris bin 'Abdallah) in 788, the Berber tribes were united and the Islamic faith and Arabic language adopted.

Moroccan Sports Morocco said goodbye to the World Cup/African Nations Cup finals on Saturday (November 14th), following a crushing 2-1 loss to the Cameroon Indomitable Lions in Fez. . The Atlas Lions gave a flimsy performance on the pitch that lacked the harmony and fighting spirit needed to eke out a win. Instead of charging the Cameroonian goal, the squad instead fell back to defend their net.