Pt.II: Colonialism, Nationalism, the Harem 19 th -20 th centuries Week 9: Morocco [Nov. 11 Remembrance Day Holiday; Nov. 13 cancelled; Discussion Nov. 15]
Morocco: 19 th -20 th C. History of Imperial Harem: Most famously known in 17 th-18th centuries under Alawite Sultan, Moulay Ismail Ibn Sharif (1645-1727)
Morocco: 18 th C. An Empire of Kingdoms (note Kingdom of Fez in north)
Morocco: 19 th -20 th C. Moulay Ismaïl: great figure in Moroccan history Successfully fought the Ottoman Turks: 1679, 1682, 1695/96 to assure Moroccan independence Europeans occupied of several seaports: 1681 and 1689 retook two major ports from the Spanish; 1684, retook Tangier from British Established excellent relations with Louis XIV (France): sent ambassador in 1682 French officers trained Moroccan army, advised in building public works
Morocco: 19 th -20 th C. Moulay Ismaïl: also known as fearsome and cruel ruler Said to have used at least 25,000 slaves for the construction of his capital Created Black Slave Army (the Black Guard): over 150,000 men Obtained Christian slaves from Western Europe via raids by Barbary Pirates: used to obtain ransom, rich gifts Most famous of these: Thomas Pellow captured from seizure British ship 1716
Morocco: 19 th -20 th C. Pellow provided contemporary description of Moulay Ismail s palace including his harem [see Thomas Pellow, additional Readings] Pellow credits Moulay Ismaïl with some 4000 concubines (and one favourite wife, the Queen) It is alleged that the Sultan fathered 888 children: total of 867 children (525 sons, 342 daughters), was noted in1703 a 700th son was said to have been born in 1721 Pellow s account also speaks of widespread use of Eunuchs and harem protocol with respect to accessing women
History of Domestic Harem: Little known traditional culture varied according to region, rural-urban environment [reflected in Mernissi s comparison of city house in Fez, Yasmina s farm in countryside] In south, houses divided: men s and women s quarters exactly the same but either separate parts of compound [like Yasmina] or different floors of house.
Dreams of Trespass: Fatima Mernissi s memoir of growing up in a harem: set in Fez, 1940s Context: colonial Morocco occupied in north by Spain, central/southern parts by France World War II: France overrun, occupied by Germany Nazi controlled Vichy regime in place
Overview: Alawite dynasty ( haram above) came to power 1660, recaptured territories from Europeans Defeated challenges from local tribes; built loyalties several Saharan tribes In north, Morocco able to control coast, pirates operating in Mediterranean successful in damaging European trade, taking Europeans hostage, ransoming Christian slaves (continued into 20 th c.)
19 th Century: Political, economic competition between European powers (Britain, France, Spain, Germany): Morocco important focus, recognition of economic importance Initially: agreed to keep open for all (trade) By 1904-5: agreements broke down
1904-5: crisis 1904 secret agreement France-Spain to partition Morocco Britain backed off in exchange for free hand in Egypt Over next few years, France expanded control through various situations 1911: Germany brought warships into Agadir (south)
Partition: Germany agreed to French Protectorate in return for agreed territory in Equatorial Africa March 1912: Sultan agreed to division Morocco into four administrative zones: French Protectorate: 9/10s of country, Rabat capital Spanish Protectorate: capital Tetouan Southern Protectorate of Morocco, administered with Spanish Sahara [source of contemporary controversy] International zone of Tangiers
Colonial Morocco: 1912.Fez
Struggle for Independence: Rif War 1921-6: mountainous region in north; leader Abdel Karim strong resistance 1934: nationalist movement began with group of young Moroccans presenting draft reform plan Support led to revolt: French crushed it 1937
Spain: General Franco's successful battle against the Republican government of Spain( Spanish Civil War 1936-39) began in Spanish Morocco in 1936 Led to totalitarian regime, allied with Italy, German Nazis France: French Morocco stayed loyal to Nazi imposed Vichy government after fall of France, 1940
Drew in Allied Forces: Nov. 8, 1942: Allied forces landed in all major cities of Morocco and Algeria Nov. 11: resistance ended January 1943: Allied wartime leaders met at Casablanca American President Roosevelt opposed continued French Colonial control
Istiqlal : ( independence ) movement formed 1944 Sultan of Morocco (Mohammad V) did not oppose (tacitly supported) 1952: after escalating opposition, Istiqlal leaders arrested 1953: Mohammed V, deposed, exiled
End of Colonialism: 1955: resistance in neighbouring Algeria, ongoing disorder in Morocco pushed French to restore Mohammed V 1956: France and Spain relinquished protectorates [same year, Tangier returned to Morocco; 1958, Southern Protectorate ceded to Moroccan government]
Mernissi s Memoir: Set mostly in context of WWII Her world has colonial Spanish to the north and colonial French in area of Fez Her memories as child are mostly of World War II when Vichy French were established in French Morocco soldiers at the end of the street and the violence when they sensed opposition from local population was more than just colonial rule it was wartime paranoia
Mernissi s Memoir: Still: can be compared to Huda Shaawari s memoir which straddled World War I Especially true with respect to role of nationalism and changing attitudes to and fate of the domestic harem Again: we need to think about how the harem experience has shaped recent and contemporary feminism in the Islamic ME and Africa in the context of the colonial/nationalist struggle
Morocco: early 20 th C. Illustrations of Mernissi s world: the external frontier
Illustrations of Mernissi s world: the interior frontier
Illustrations of Mernissi s world: the local mosque Women arriving to wash (exterior); Women Praying (interior)
Egypt: 1919 Women Nationalists Demonstrating, Cairo 1919 *Note: Mernissi is mistaken P.131: women marched Veiled; Shaawari unveiled In 1923