Université Hassan II

Ecole Supérieure de Technologie, Casablanca

DOSSIER
Culture and Civilization
MDO Programme
S2

Pr. H. SIMOUR
Associate Professor of English and Cultural Studies
Hassan II University of Casablanca
The Higher School of Technology

2022-2023
COURSE OBJECTIVES

The syllabus adopted in this class is meant to meet the following objectives:
 To develop the students’ understanding of issues about Moroccan culture and
civilization.
 To sensitize the students on the importance of culture in defining belonging and
identity affiliation.
 To develop an awareness in the reading of culture material
It is organized around a set of learning tasks and activities that are based on abilities
that students have to attain in order to achieve their learning targets, and improve their
performance.

PROGRAM OUTLINE
Introduction
I. Culture, and Civilisation
1. Concepts and definitions

II. Moroccan Culture and its different components

III. Issues about Moroccan culture and civilization

Assignments
I. Oral activity on issues about Moroccan culture and civilization
Assessment
1. Attendance and participation: 20%
2. In-class activities: 30%
3. Exam : 50%

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INTRODUCTION

Moroccan culture has a centuries-old tradition of openness to the world due to its
geographical position at the crossroads of continents that is not new but dates back to
ancient times. But Islam that has a profound personality shaped Moroccan culture and
made it intimately linked to religion that permeate the rules of conduct, ethics and
exchange based on a genuine sense of moderation, reserve and modesty .

Culture is defined as “the customary beliefs, social forms, and material traits of racial,
religious, or social group; and the set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices
that characterizes an institution or organization” according to the Merriam-Webster
dictionary (2018).

This means that culture has an impact on many different aspects of our lives.

- Sir Edward Tylor’s definition in 1871 (first use of this term): Culture is“that
complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, custom, and
any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society”

- Sapir (1921): “Human beings do not live in the objective world alone, nor alone
in the world of social activity as ordinarily understood, but are very much at the
mercy of the particular language which has become the medium of expression
in that society.”

- For John Bodley (1994): Diverse Definitions

Topical: Culture consists of everything on a list of topics, or categories, such as social

organization, religion, or economy

Historical: Culture is social heritage, or tradition, that is passed on to future

generations (tangible and intangible)

Behavioral: Culture is shared, learned human behavior, a way of life

Normative: Culture is ideals, values, or rules for living

Functional: Culture is the way humans solve problems of adapting to the environment
or living together

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Mental: Culture is a complex of ideas, or learned habits, that inhibit impulses and
distinguish people from animals

Structural: Culture consists of patterned and interrelated ideas, symbols, or behaviors

Symbolic: Culture is based on arbitrarily assigned meanings that are shared by a

society

The simplest definition of culture is “the various lifestyles” of the folks.

Lifestyles can be understood as a countless quantity of details of daily behavior, which

are shared by most people forming a particular society. This means that most people
from a particular social group will react to a particular situation in a similar way.

Such conformity of behavior and its social acceptance creates a cultural model, in
psychology also called “the script of behavior”.

Culture is a collection of such models and for the members of every society it
constitutes an indispensable guide to all issues of life.

Culture is characterized by its nonmaterial and material dimensions. Culture is

reflected in society through its nonmaterial cultural dimensions (e.g., beliefs, values,
symbols, and language), as well as by its material culture (e.g., physical objects,
technology, and forms of dress).

MOROCCO’S HISTORY AND CIVILIZATION

Morocco is a country located in North Africa that has a rich and diverse history and
civilization that dates back thousands of years. The history of Morocco can be divided
into several distinct periods, each of which has left a lasting impact on the country's
culture, art, architecture, language, and people.

Prehistoric Morocco:

Morocco has a long prehistory that dates back to at least 700,000 BC. Some of the
earliest known human remains in the world have been found in Morocco, including
fossils of Homo sapiens from the Middle Paleolithic period. Archaeological sites from
this period show evidence of hunting and gathering, as well as early stone tool
production. The Amazigh, who are the indigenous people of North Africa, were the

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first inhabitants of Morocco. They were followed by the Phoenicians, who established
trading posts along the Moroccan coast in the 12th century BC.

Ancient Morocco:

Morocco was home to several ancient civilizations, including the Phoenicians,

Carthaginians, and Romans. The Phoenicians founded settlements along the Moroccan
coast, including the city of Lixus, while the Carthaginians established trading posts in
the region. The Romans conquered Morocco in the 1st century BC and established
several important cities, including Volubilis, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage
site.

Roman and Byzantine Era:

In 40 CE, the Romans established the province of Mauretania Tingitana, which

covered much of modern-day Morocco. During the Roman era, Morocco saw
significant development in its infrastructure, including roads, and public buildings.
After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, Morocco was ruled by the Vandals and
then the Byzantines.

Islamic Period:

In 682 CE, the Arab Muslim conquest of Morocco began, and the country became an
important center of Islamic learning and culture. The Idrisid dynasty, which was
founded by Idris I in the 8th century, was the first Muslim dynasty to rule Morocco.
They were succeeded by the Almoravids, Almohads, Marinids, and Saadians, who all
contributed to the development of Moroccan culture and society.

In the 7th century AD, Arab armies conquered Morocco and introduced Islam to the
region. Over the centuries, Morocco became an important center of Islamic learning
and scholarship, and the country's architecture, art, and literature were heavily
influenced by Islamic traditions. The Almoravid and Almohad dynasties, which ruled
Morocco from the 11th to the 13th centuries, were particularly important in shaping
the country's Islamic identity.

The Saadian Dynasty: In the 16th century, the Saadian dynasty rose to power and
unified Morocco under a single rule. The Saadian sultans were responsible for the
construction of many of Morocco's most famous palaces, including the El Badi Palace
in Marrakesh.

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 The Alaouite Dynasty: The current Moroccan monarchy traces its roots back to the
Alaouite dynasty, which came to power in the 17th century. The Alaouite sultans were
successful in repelling European colonialism and maintained Morocco's independence
throughout the colonial era.

Morocco under European Influence:

In the 19th century, Morocco came under the influence of several European powers,
including France, Spain, and Portugal. This period of colonialism had a significant
impact on Moroccan culture and society, as European ideas and values were
introduced to the region. Morocco gained independence from France in 1956 and has
since worked to assert its own cultural and political identity.

Modern Morocco: Today, Morocco is a diverse and vibrant country that is home to a
rich blend of cultures, languages, and traditions. The country's art, music, and cuisine
are all influenced by its long and complex history, and its people are proud of their
heritage and their place in the modern world.

Moroccan culture has been shaped by a wide range of influences throughout its
history, resulting in a unique blend of different cultural elements. Some of the key
influences that have contributed to Moroccan culture include:

1. Amazigh culture: Amazighs/Berbers, who are the indigenous people of North

Africa, have inhabited Morocco for thousands of years. They have had a significant
impact on Moroccan culture, particularly in the areas of language, cuisine, and
handicrafts.

2. Arab culture: Arab influence in Morocco can be traced back to the 7th century, when
Arab armies conquered the region. The Arabic language and Islamic religion were
introduced, and have since become integral parts of Moroccan culture.

All of these different influences have contributed to the diversity of Moroccan culture,
making it a vibrant and unique place. From the colorful handicrafts of the souks to the
intricate tilework of the mosques, Moroccan culture is a reflection of its rich history
and diverse influences. Additionally, Moroccan culture continues to evolve and adapt,
incorporating new elements and ideas while also preserving its traditional roots.

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3. Andalusian culture: Andalusia was a region in southern Spain that was ruled by
Muslims for several centuries. When the region was conquered by Christians in the
15th century, many Muslims fled to Morocco and brought with them their cultural
traditions, including music, poetry, and architecture.

4. French and Spanish colonialism: Morocco was colonized by both France and Spain
in the early 20th century. While this period of colonialism was marked by political and
economic oppression, it also had a significant impact on Moroccan culture,
particularly in the areas of language, education, and urban planning.

All of these different influences have contributed to the diversity of Moroccan culture,
making it a vibrant and unique place. From the colorful handicrafts of the souks to the
intricate tilework of the mosques, Moroccan culture is a reflection of its rich history
and diverse influences. Additionally, Moroccan culture continues to evolve and adapt,
incorporating new elements and ideas while also preserving its traditional roots.

5. The Hassani culture refers to the cultural traditions of the people living in the
Moroccan Sahara region, which was once part of the Hassaniya-speaking Moorish
Empire that spanned across North Africa and the Sahel. The Hassaniya language is
a variety of Arabic, with Berber and Sub-Saharan African influences.

Hassani culture is known for its rich oral tradition, including poetry, storytelling, and
music. The poetry is often recited in a style which involves call-and-response between
the poet and the audience. Storytelling is also an important part of the culture, with
stories often being passed down through generations.

Music is an integral part of Hassani culture, with traditional instruments such as the
tidinit (three-stringed lute) and the ardin (harp) being commonly used. Traditional
songs often focus on themes of love, heroism, and history.

Hassani culture is also reflected in its handicrafts, particularly in the weaving of

textiles. Women in the region are known for their skill in weaving blankets and
carpets, often using camel hair or wool.

In addition to these cultural traditions, the Hassani people have a strong connection to
the land and the desert environment in which they live. Traditional practices such as

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camel herding and date farming are still common in the region, and the people have
developed unique strategies for surviving in the harsh desert climate.

Overall, Hassani culture is a vibrant and unique part of Moroccan culture, with its own
distinctive language, traditions, and way of life. The people of the region have
maintained their cultural identity despite centuries of outside influence, and continue
to pass down their traditions to future generations

6. Jewish Identity and Culture

Morocco has a rich history of Jewish culture and traditions that date back to ancient
times. Jewish communities have lived in Morocco for over 2,000 years, and at one
time, the country had the largest Jewish population in the Muslim world. Today, while
the number of Jews in Morocco has decreased significantly, the country remains home
to a small but vibrant Jewish community that is proud of its traditions and heritage.

Some of the key Jewish traditions in Morocco include:

1. The Mimouna: The Mimouna is a post-Passover celebration that marks the end
of the holiday and the beginning of spring. The holiday is celebrated by Jews of
North African descent, and features a variety of traditional foods and music.

2. Henna ceremonies: Henna ceremonies are a traditional pre-wedding celebration

in Moroccan Jewish culture. The bride and female guests have their hands and
feet painted with henna in intricate designs, while traditional music is played
and special foods are served.

3. Sephardic music: Sephardic music is a traditional style of Jewish music that

originated in Spain and spread throughout the Mediterranean region, including
Morocco. The music features a mix of Hebrew and Spanish lyrics, and often
incorporates traditional Moroccan instruments such as the oud and the qanun.

4. Shabbat traditions: Shabbat, the Jewish day of rest, is an important part of

Moroccan Jewish culture. Traditionally, families gather for a festive meal on
Friday night, with special foods such as challah bread and chicken tagine being
served.

In addition to these traditions, Moroccan Jewish culture is also reflected in its cuisine,
which features a blend of Jewish and Moroccan flavors and ingredients.

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Overall, Moroccan Jewish traditions are an important part of the country's cultural
heritage, reflecting the rich and diverse history of Jewish communities in the region.
These traditions continue to be celebrated and passed down through generations,
helping to keep the memory of Moroccan Jewish culture alive.

POST-INDEPENDENCE PERIOD

Moroccan society consists of two cultures, each with its own language or languages,
its own way of thinking and style. There exists the traditional culture, which was
prominent before Morocco became a protectorate and is still found today, although it
has lost its vitality and original purpose. And there exists a “modern” culture that came
with colonization. Consequently, the authorities in charge of administrating culture
must find a sort of proportionality between traditional heritage and Western culture
while keeping an open venue for the development of traditions and the promotion of
creativity.

The cultural life of Morocco continued harmoniously within this traditional system
until the protectorate era. The protectorate system established the Fine Arts Service in
1912 in an effort to modernize Moroccan culture. The Fine Arts Service was the first
administrative authority in charge of Islamic and modern archaeology and arts. In
1920, the service was annexed to the Department of Public Education, Fine Arts and
Archeology. It remained this way until independence in 1956, when the entire
apparatus underwent organizational overhaul. Thus it can be said that formal arts
institutions began in the protectorate era. With the establishment of the first
independent Moroccan government in 1955, the Department of Public Education, Fine
Arts and Archeology was transformed to the Ministry of Sciences, Education and Fine
Arts. Ten months after its transformation, the ministry vanished, taking fine arts with
it.

Fine Arts reappeared with the eighth government in 1963, under the Ministry of
Tourism, Traditional Handicrafts and Fine Arts. When a government transition
occurred again in 1963, the new government retained the same ministry, including fine
arts. Placing fine arts with traditional handicrafts and tourism reflects an implicit
desire by officials to relate it to tourism and traditional handicrafts, priority sectors in
the five-year plan of 1968-1972 for economic and social development. In the tenth

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government, established in June 1965, fine arts was placed with the Ministry of
National Education, Fine Arts, Youth and Sports as an attempt to put together all
related cultural constituents. This lasted only for the government’s term, from June
1965 to May 1967. In the next government, fine arts fell under the Ministry of
National Education. It was not until 1968 that culture appeared as its own ministry.

HERITAGE AND CULTURAL DYNAMISM

Morocco’s heritage and cultural and artistic dynamism are meaningful contributions
to global culture. After a long period of political conflicts characterized by an absence
of veritable cultural policies, Moroccan society was able to preserve its national
heritage and renovate cultural and artistic creativity. Through its contributions to
tourism and culture, this heritage gives Morocco today the image of a nation rooted in
history. The country’s architectural and anthropological sites have eroded somewhat
due to the lack of maintenance over the past decades. Oral heritage and “local implicit
knowledge” also suffer the same problem. The arts and culture boom Morocco
witnessed from independence to the early 1970s stagnated for more than two decades.
Since the early 1990s, political openness and media development have ushered in new
artistic and cultural features in literature production, contemporary architecture and
arts, film and theatre. The Moroccan monarch announced in a speech the establishment
of a royal foundation to serve Amazigh language and culture, to be called the Royal
Institute of Amazigh Culture. It would be entrusted with the task of developing a
national strategy for reconciliation between Moroccan society and the Amazigh. This
institute is in cooperation with government authorities and relevant institutions, and
will result in the integration of this segment of society into the educational system, the
media, cultural life and

HISTORICAL MONUMENTS IN MOROCCO

Morocco is an old country where several civilizations succeeded and many races have
mixed. Crossroad of the great commercial ways between Europe, Africa and the
Middle-East, Morocco shelters a rich inheritance and a varied heritage of this
diversity. In turn the Berber ones, the vandals, the Romans and the Moslems extended
their capacity on the north of Africa and Andalusia, leaving behind them eternal
testimonies of the refinement of their civilizations and ways of living. In the field of

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built heritage, the succession of the Moslem dynasties from the 8th century carried out
the synthesis of arts in the Mediterranean circumference by combining the column of
the ancient time, the Roman vault, the Persian warhead and cupola, and the courtyards
of Eastern palaces. This well-succeeded mixture reached an undeniable magnificence
under the Saadiens sovereignty in the 16th century (e.g., the Badii Palace and the
Saadien Tombs in Marrakech).

After the independence

The efforts allowed during the French protectorate unfortunately were not continued
after Morocco independence what has had a desolating effect on the state of many
monuments that were set free to robbery and destruction. It was undoubtedly the
classification of the old medinas of Morocco as world heritage by UNESCO that
awakened the common Moroccan for the importance of the national inheritance and
for the interest that this heritage presents, not only for the memory of the country, but
for Mankind in general. Indeed, since 1980 several monuments and sites (including
historical cities) from Morocco were declared World Heritage by UNESCO.

Fès medina inscribed in 1981 Marrakech medina inscribed in 1985

The historical city of Meknès inscribed in 1996

The archaeological site of Volubilis inscribed in 1997

The medina of Tétouan (old Titawin) inscribed in 1997.

The cultural space of Plaza jamaa El Fna inscribed in 2001

The medina of Essaouira (old Mogador) inscribed in 2001

The Portuguesecity of Mazagan (El Jadida) inscribed in 2004

This popular awakening was reinforced by a certain number of actions planed by the
authorities and by the adoption of a bulk strategy with the purpose of using historical
buildings for local development. This strategy was developed at several levels.

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