Magico Marruecos
The Free People of North Africa
Origins of the Berbers
Morocco is a fascinating destination all year round, but choosing the best time to travel depends on the region you want to visit and the kind of experience you are looking for. At Mágico Marruecos we design tailor-made trips in every season, from cultural city breaks to Atlas Mountains treks and desert tours.
Knowing Morocco’s weather by region will help you plan your trip and enjoy it to the full. Below we explain, simply, what the climate is like in each region and the best time to visit it.
- The first Berbers settled in what is now Morocco more than 5,000 years ago, as nomadic herders living in the desert and the mountains.
- The name “Berber” was given to them by outsiders, from the Greek and Roman word for foreigners; they prefer Imazighen, meaning “people of the land” or “free people”.
- From the start, the Berbers stood out for their independence and attachment to their traditions — qualities that are still alive today.
Contact with other civilisations
The Berbers never lived in isolation. Throughout history they traded and coexisted with other cultures:
- Phoenicians and Carthaginians: Berbers traded hides, livestock and dairy products for manufactured goods, seeds and farming know-how.
- Romans: established the province of Mauretania Tingitana in northern Morocco, with cities such as Volubilis, Tingis (Tangier) and Lixus. Some Berbers adopted Roman ways, while others kept their own customs.
The Berbers and Islam
In AD 682, Arab armies reached Morocco. Many Berbers embraced Islam, changing the course of the country’s history. Berber leaders such as Tariq ibn Ziyad were key to the conquest of Al-Andalus (Islamic Spain).
- The Berbers founded major dynasties, such as the Almoravids and the Almohads, who unified Morocco and extended their influence into Al-Andalus and across North Africa.
- They have kept their language and traditions, which you can see today in festivals, music, architecture and crafts.
Berber culture today
Travelling in Morocco is also a journey into Berber culture:
- Language: The Tamazight is spoken in the mountains, valleys and rural villages, and is an official language of Morocco.
- Dress: Traditional clothing, such as that worn by women in the Atlas Mountains, shows ancestral patterns and colours.
- Architecture and villages: The kasbahs, earthen fortresses and mountain villages reflect centuries of Berber history.
Crafts: Rugs, jewellery and pottery with Berber patterns are a symbol of their identity.