Marrakesh , Capital of Almoravides:The Amazigh Dynasty

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Almoravid_dynasty the Almovarides Dynasty( amazigh dynasty) founded the city of Marrakesh, known as, "The Red Pearl". The colourful Spice Market is only one of several markets, otherwise known as 'souks' where baskets brim over with ginger, saffron, caraway and coriander. The souks are divided into different areas and specialities including various craft workshops in which coppersmiths and potters offer their goods for sale. Even today the bazaars still display the age-old splendour of this important trading city and caravan destination. Snake charmers still captivate curious onlookers and the Jemaa-El-Fna Square with its tricksters, minstrels and other entertainers is one of the oldest open-air variety shows in Africa. Each magnificent sunset shows why Marrakesh was given its nickname of "The Red Pearl", and this city is indeed a fascinating living gem of a time gone by. Most Protected Monuments - Heritage is our legacy from the past, what we live today, and what we pass on to future generations. our cultural and natural heritage are both irreplaceable sources of life and inspiration. Places as unique and diverse as the wilds of East Africa's Serengeti, the Pyramids of Egypt, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia and the Baroque cathedrals of Latin America make up our world's heritage. Join us as we explore one of these protected monuments. Les Almoravides (en arabe Al-Murābitūn, المرابطون) sont une dynastie berbère issue du Sahara (actuelle Mauritanie). Du XIe siècle au XIIe siècle, ils régnèrent sur le Sahara, une partie du Maghreb et une partie de la péninsule Ibérique.le mouvement almoravides fondé par l'africain Yusuf ibn Tashifin originaire de l'Afrique de l'ouest qui conquis l'Espagne en 1086 avec 15000 hommes dont 6000 sénégalais. Le royaume est délimité par l'océan Atlantique à l'ouest, par le royaume de Castille, le royaume de Navarre, le royaume d'Aragon, le comté de Barcelone et le comté d'Urgell au nord, par les Hammadides à l'est, et de facto au sud par le Sahara (royaumes du Bambuk, Bure, Lobi, empire du Mali et empire du Ghana). the Almoravids, was a Berber[Amazigh] dynasty from the Sahara that spread over a wide area of North-Western Africa and the Iberian peninsula during the 11th century. Under this dynasty the Moorish empire was extended over present-day Morocco, Western Sahara, Mauritania, Gibraltar, Tlemcen (in Algeria) and a great part of what is now Senegal and Mali in the south, and Spain and Portugal to the north in Europe. At its extent, the empire stretched 3,000 kilometres north to south (an all-time latitude spanner until Spanish America). "Almoravids" is a transcription of "Al-Murabitun". The exact meaning of "Murabit" is a matter of controversy. Some have suggested that the word might be derived from the Arabic ribat meaning fortress (a term with which it shares the root r-b-t). Most historians, however, now believe that it refers to ribat meaning "ready for battle" (cf. jihad).