2. History and religion

 

• The territory corresponding to Morocco was inhabited by Berbers since at least 5000 years ago.
• Islam was first brought to Morocco in 680 by an Arab invasion under Uqba ibn Nafi, who was a general serving under the Umayyada of Damascus.
• The country was first unified by the Idriss I in 789.
• In 1912, France and Spain divided Morocco into a French and Spanish protectorate.
• In 1956, Morocco gained independence from France and Spain as the “Kingdom of Morocco”.
• About 99% are Sunni Muslims and there are only about 5,000 Jews in the country.