History of Casablanca

The town that has become present-day Casablanca was originally settled by Berbers in the 7th century. In response to rule by Arab Muslims, a small, independent kingdom arose in the area known as Anfa, which was then conquered by the Almoravids in 1068. During its long and eventful history, the city has been destroyed by the Portuguese, rebuilt by the Arabs, colonised by the French and finally, it achieved independence once again in 1956.

Before the French Protectorate

Anfa gained importance as a port under the Merinids in the 14th century. In the early part of the 15th century, the town once again became an independent state, emerging also as a safe haven for pirates and privateers. Because of this, it was destroyed by the Portuguese in 1468, who subsequently built a military fortress atop the ruins in 1515. By 1755, they abandoned the area completely, following an earthquake which destroyed most of the buildings.

Sultan Sidi Mohammed III, a grandson of Moulay Ismail and an ally of George Washington, had the town rebuilt after the Portuguese abandoned it, calling it Dar el Beida in Arabic, or Casa Blanca in Spanish - both meaning ‘white house’.

Casablanca’s population grew considerably in the 19th century as it became a major supplier of wool to Britain’s booming textile industry. At the same time, there was an increase in shipping traffic as the British began to import Morocco's famous gunpowder tea. In the early 1860s, the population had reached 4,000 residents, growing to 9,000 by the late 1880s. In 1906, shortly after the French conquest, the population reached 12,000, with the arrival of the colonialists from France.

French rule

By the turn of the 20th century, the French had established some control over Casablanca and in June 1907, the occupiers began building a light railway near the port, which was to pass through a graveyard. This enraged the locals, who attacked the French workers, and riots subsequently ensued. French troops were brought in to restore order, causing more riots. Order was eventually restored, although there was severe damage to the city. 

The French then took firmer control of Casablanca, and formalised their authority in 1910. By 1921, the population had risen to 110,000, largely through the development of bidonvilles (shanty towns). Anti-French rioting during the 1940s and 1950s resurfaced and on Christmas Day in 1953, a terrorist bomb was set off, causing many casualties.

Since independence

On 2 March, 1956, Morocco gained independence from France. Today, Rabat is the political capital of the country, while Marrakesh has remained the cultural capital and Casablanca the economic centre of Morocco. Tourism has continued to gain importance, particularly in more recent years. French tourists form a significant part of the annual tourism statistics, and the French language is widely spoken.