Almoravides: conquest, faith, and empire in the 11th century
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In the 11th century, the Almoravides, a Berber Muslim dynasty also known as the Mourabitounes, established control over a large area of western Sahara, the Maghreb, and as far north as the Iberian Peninsula.
Around 1070, they founded Marrakech in present-day Morocco and made it their capital before conquering much of Al-Andalus, a region in modern Spain and Portugal.
The rise of the Almoravides occurred during a period of political and religious division within the wider Muslim world, following the decline of the Baghdad caliphate. The Almoravides built a large empire connecting the Sahara, the Maghreb, and Andalusia, developing trade across the Sahara, especially the gold trade. They also created their own currency, the almoravid dinar, known for its high quality and value.
Historian Elemine Ould Mohamed Baba notes that in Mauritania, a country in Northwest Africa, the historical memory of the Almoravides remains strong, with cities like Chinguetti, Ouadane, and Tichitt claiming ties to the Andalusian heritage.
