First Contacts - Europe and Asia

     

In the old days, this salt was mined in huge slabs
97. Untitled, accessed August 4, 2016
http://castinet.castilleja.org/users/pmckee/africaweb/kingdoms.html

     Historically, Morocco has been a land frequented by a seemingly constant influx of immigrants, culture, and trade - not to mention, a series of religious influences (none of which stuck as prominently as Islam). The beginning of recorded history for the Nation of Morocco (as it is formally known) began with Phoenician colonizers between the 8^th and 6^th centuries BC. [1] For the Phoenicians, the establishment of settlements, salt, and ore were the main endeavors of their contact with the area. Thereafter, the Carthaginians extended their dominion across much of North Africa and developed commercial relationships with the indigenous people of the interior: the Berber people. [2] They intended to pay tribute to the Berbers in order to ensure the reliable exploitation of raw materials. However, one particularly well known historian noted a special system of trade that the Carthaginians established with the local people. 

     Herodotus described an archaic trade system used between the Carthaginians and the coastal peoples which he referred to as a silent trade or "dumb barter". [3] According to Merriam Webster, dumb barter is "a primitive system of barter in which the parties avoiding personal contact leave goods at accepted locations in return for others." [4] The Carthaginians would typically exchange their manufactured goods for gold.

Invasions of the Roman Empire
Mapmaster, Invasions of the Roman Empire, NY, accessed August 4, 2016
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Tunisia#/media/File:Invasions_of_the_Roman_Empire_1.png

     Circa 300 BC, Romans moved into and established outposts on the coastlands of the Berber kingdoms whereby a relationship between Romans and the indigenous peoples developed: the Berber kings ruled the inlands while they allowed the Romans to control the undefined territory of the coastal outposts. However, in 2^nd century AD, Christianity was introduced and by the 4^th century AD, Romanized areas were Christianized. [5] Seventh century AD marked the beginning of the Muslim conquest of the Maghreb (the northwest region of the African continent, which includes modern day Morocco). Control of the region was successfully gained in 8^th century AD whereby the vapid and profound spread of Islam seized the Maghreb, including Morocco. [6] However, expeditions were not only led to Morocco but also from the kingdom nation. Though very small and limited in resources, some Moroccan natives ventured out and explored other lands as well.

Portrait of a Humanist
Piombo, Sebastiano, Portrait of a Humanist, January 1, 1520, painting, accessed August 4, 2016
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leo_Africanus#/media/File:Sebastiano_del_Piombo_Portrait_of_a_Humanist.jpg

Reader discussed the account of Leo Africanus. The Spanish-born Moroccan denizen made two trips into West Africa. One trip took him to the kingdom of "Tombuto" (Timbuktu) which, by many, was thought to be home to all kinds of nefarious creatures. However, Reader posits that Africanus' visit revealed a "well-ordered, prosperous, and civilized society in which learning flourished as well as trade".[7]

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[1] “History of Morocco,” Wikipedia, last modified July 3, 2016, last accessed August, 4, 2016, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Morocco

[2] “History of Morocco,” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Morocco

[3] “Silent Trade,” Wikipedia, last modified May 21, 2016, last accessed August 4, 2016, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silent_trade

[4] “Dumb Barter,” Merriam Webster, last accessed August 4, 2016, http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dumb%20barter

[5] History of Morocco,” Wikipedia

[6] “History of North Africa,” History World, last accessed August 4, 2016, http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?ParagraphID=edl

[7] John Reader, Africa, (London: Hamish Hamilton Ltd.), 1997, 327