When it comes to Africa, many people think of backward infrastructure, poor people, hot weather and vast deserts.
In addition to these, what is even more impressive is the dark skin and large white teeth of the locals, and this unique lineage is difficult to change even when combined with people of other skin colors.
However, there is one country in Africa that may surprise us if we visit there, with its pleasant climate and vibrant vegetation.
Even the locals are completely different from what we think of as Africans, walking the streets full of blonde and blue-eyed beauties, and if it weren't for the hot climate, it would be possible to mistakenly think that you are in the Arab region.
That country is Morocco in northwestern Africa.
If we often watch the news, we can understand that the relationship between the mainland and Morocco is getting closer and closer, and he has implemented a visa-free policy for China.
So what is the history of such a country that is different from the rest of Africa? What is the story with the mainland?
1. Morocco is geographically important
Morocco is a country located in northwestern Africa with a very rich history and a special geographical location.
Morocco has always been a crossroads of cultures and civilizations, dating back to prehistoric times.
Archaeologists have found that Morocco entered the Neolithic as early as 300,000 to 400,000 years ago.
South of Casablanca, archaeologists have found fossils belonging to Homo sapiens, known as "Casablanca Man".
Neolithic Morocco gave birth to a Kabodhisattva culture based on hunting and gathering in the general period, which was closely linked to the surrounding area.
Over time, Morocco has developed its own indigenous culture.
But the settlement of the Phoenicians on the Moroccan coast foreshadowed the history of Morocco being ruled by foreign powers for centuries to come.
Due to Morocco's unique geographical location in Africa, this land has always been a battleground for soldiers.
Morocco is located in northwestern Africa and has become an important "guard" of the Strait of Gibraltar, an important passage to the Mediterranean.
The Strait of Gibraltar is an important meeting point for Europe, Africa and the Middle East, and is not only the only waterway connecting the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean, but also a key port for maritime trade.
This has given Morocco a key role in both the military and economic fields, and it has also made many countries think badly.
Morocco's port cities, such as Tangier and Ceuta, have long been the focus of contention among maritime powers.
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Morocco is a country that has been the scene of competition between countries such as ancient Rome, the Islamic Empire, Portugal, Spain and France.
Even today's unique geographical location in Morocco has allowed it to maintain an important position in the international community.
Although Morocco is a very important country in Africa, if we travel to Morocco, we can find that there are few black people in this country, and blonde and blue-eyed beauties are frequently seen, which is actually closely related to the history of Morocco.
2. African countries without "blacks".
In the 3rd century AD, the Roman Empire began to expand rapidly, and Mauritania, which was founded by the Phoenicians on the coast of Morocco, became his land under the iron heel of the Roman Empire, and its culture and architecture were influenced by ancient Rome.
In the 7th century, Morocco was conquered by the Arabs, Islam and Arab culture entered Morocco, and Morocco established a Muslim dynasty.
At that time, many indigenous Moroccans converted to Islam, and Morocco became an important academic center and seat of government at that time.
Although the indigenous Berbers of Morocco regained power in the 9th century, Muslim and Arab cultures had already assimilated the dominant cultures.
Since the 15th century, Morocco's strategic location has become a key location for many countries to develop their economies.
Therefore, France, Spain and other countries began to carry out colonial invasions here, and it became a protectorate of Western powers.
Under the influence of these countries, the culture of Morocco began to change, and the skin color of the people gradually began to change.
Morocco's indigenous Berbers are not typically black-skinned, and the arrival of Arabs, French and Portuguese has gradually made Moroccans' complexion lighter.
After the end of the Second World War, Morocco finally declared its independence in 1956 and established its own state.
The end of colonial rule in other countries left behind a great deal of culture in Morocco.
French became the lingua franca of Morocco due to its long period of French colonial rule, and Moroccan architecture was also very Westernized under French influence.
After independence, Morocco had close ties with European countries because of its French-oriented culture, and there were a large number of European expatriates and tourists.
Today, Morocco has become a multi-ethnic country, and people from many European countries have fallen in love with the Moroccan people and have given birth to one mixed-race child after another.
Over time, there were fewer and fewer black people in Morocco, and more and more blondes.
However, it is surprising that such a country with close ties with Europe also has a lot of intersection with China.
Third, relations with China are getting closer and closer
The friendly relations between China and Morocco began on November 1, 1958.
At that time, China and Morocco established diplomatic relations, and since then the two countries have maintained healthy and good development.
Many Chinese leaders have visited Morocco frequently, and King Mohammed of Morocco has also visited China many times.
This has made the friendly relations between the two countries closer and closer, and the friendly exchanges between the two countries will inevitably have a bearing on the economic and trade cooperation between the two sides.
As early as 2014, Morocco officially held the China-Morocco Economic and Trade Forum in China, which laid a solid foundation for the long-term trade development between the two countries.
In 2016, China and Morocco deepened cooperation in the field of energy development.
China is known as the "infrastructure madman" by the international community, and as a "good friend" of the mainland, we have naturally helped Morocco to carry out a lot of infrastructure construction.
China has helped Morocco build infrastructure such as Tangier Technopolis, CITIC Dicastal North Africa Factory, Nuo'o Solar Power Plant, and Oujda Flood Drainage Canal Project.
This has not only helped Morocco's development, but also deepened the relationship between the two countries.
In order to promote deeper cultural exchanges between the two sides, China has set up three Confucius Institutes in Morocco to promote close cultural and educational exchanges between the two countries.
In addition, China and Morocco have also carried out close cooperation in the fields of news, health and tourism, and Morocco is the first country in Africa to implement a visa-free policy to China.
On June 1, 2016, the Moroccan government announced that it would implement a visa-free policy for all Chinese citizens.
This is not only to promote close exchanges between the two countries, but also to highlight the mutual trust between the two countries.
Since then, the two sides have achieved further cooperation in international trade and cultural exchanges, and in the future, there will be more frequent exchanges between the mainland and Morocco.
Morocco's unique culture and landscape have made many mainland tourists yearn for it, and the implementation of the visa-free policy has reduced a lot of unnecessary troubles.
So if we want to visit Morocco, what should we pay attention to?
Fourth, you need to do these things well when visiting Morocco
Morocco is known for its diversity and colourful cities, each with its own unique charm.
Traveling to Morocco we were able to see the ancient imperial city, the infinite desert, the bustling markets and the quiet seaside.
It can be said that Morocco is a rare treasure country in the world, and the most worthwhile place to visit after arriving in Morocco is the red city of Marrakech.
The Red Castle is a scenic spot known for its crimson architecture, which has maintained its original traditional style and has been modernized according to the development of the times, making it a romantic and atmospheric scene.
If you're looking to explore ancient castles, the ancient cities of Varubialis, Essaouira, and Ebn Haddou are worth a visit.
Varubelis is the site of an ancient Roman city, while Essaouira is a unique building with a French style.
The ancient city of Al Benhadu is also known as the "most beautiful village", highlighting the ancient castle of Morocco.
In addition to these landscapes, places such as Todra Canyon, the Sahara Desert, Fez, Chefchaouen, and Casablanca are all sights worth seeing.
However, due to the different cultural differences between China and Morocco, there are a few things you must pay attention to when traveling to Morocco to avoid causing extra trouble to yourself.
Morocco is an Islamic country, so female visitors should be careful not to dress too revealingly, and it is best to keep the skirt above the knee and modest.
In addition to this, the left hand is considered unclean by the local culture, so it is important to use the right hand when shaking hands and eating to avoid misunderstanding with others.
Try not to talk to strangers during the trip, and if you get lost, you can ask the staff of the local shop for help.
If you're going to an arid area, be sure not to be bitten by scorpions or other animals hiding in rocks or grass.
If you encounter a problem that you can't solve, be sure to seek help from your local embassy.
epilogue
The absence of blacks in Morocco is mainly due to its history, which has been greatly affected by colonial rule, but also brought a completely different culture to the country.
Today, Morocco has become a melting pot of various ethnic groups, and the rebirth of mixed races has added a unique color to the North African region.
Today, Morocco has become an important partner of China in Africa, and the two sides have very close ties with each other, and China has also carried out a lot of infrastructure construction for it.
It is believed that with the passage of time, the relationship between China and Morocco will become closer, and the people of the two countries will be able to achieve more frequent exchanges under the welfare policy of visa exemption.
So, if you had the chance, would you choose to visit Morocco? What do you think of the country? Welcome to leave your valuable views in the comment area.
[References]
Ministry of Foreign Affairs 2024.4 China-Morocco Relations
China Consular Service Network 2016.6.7 Morocco elaborated on the visa-free policy for Chinese citizens
A-China Industrial Research Institute 2024.5.19 China leads Morocco to become the world's electric vehicle production center
Qy Travel 2017.11.10 Morocco
Wikipedia 2024.4.24 History of Morocco