Sijilmasa: Morocco's Golden Gate to the Sahara

Long before Marrakech or Fez became Morocco's great cities, a different kind of metropolis thrived on the edge of the Sahara: Sijilmasa. For nearly a thousand years, this desert trading hub was the linchpin of trans-Saharan commerce, linking West African gold, salt, and slaves to the Mediterranean world. In this episode, Lucas and Luna trace the rise and fall of Sijilmasa—from its founding by the Miknasa Berbers in the 8th century, through its golden age under the Maghrawa and Almoravids, to its destruction by the Saadians in the 16th century. They explore how the city's unique position made it a crossroads of cultures, a target for empires, and a legend in medieval travelogues. Along the way, they discuss the role of the Kharijite heresy, the gold trade with Ghana, and the eerie parallels to today's globalized economies. If you've ever wondered how desert caravans shaped the modern world, this episode is your caravan. #Sijilmasa #TransSaharanTrade #Morocco #GoldTrade #Miknasa #Maghrawa #Almoravid #Saadian #Kharijite #GhanaEmpire #IbnBattuta #MedievalTrade #Sahara #Tafilalt #History #FexingoHistory #Podcast #NorthAfrica Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo