The Almoravid Rise: Morocco's Desert Warriors Who Built an Empire

Long before the Almohads or the Alaouites, another dynasty swept out of the Sahara to reshape Morocco and beyond. This episode follows the rise of the Almoravids — a Berber religious reform movement turned military empire. We trace their origins among the Sanhaja nomadic tribes of the western Sahara, the charismatic leadership of Abdallah ibn Yasin, and the brutal campaign that brought them to power. Lucas and Luna explore the founding of Marrakech in 1070 as their capital, the construction of the original Koutoubia Mosque, and the empire's expansion into al-Andalus. Along the way, they discuss the role of the veil (the litham), the strict Maliki legalism that defined Almoravid rule, and the factional struggles that eventually led to their downfall at the hands of the Almohads. This is a story of religious zeal, Saharan trade, and the forging of a unified Moroccan identity — all from the dust and heat of the desert. #Almoravid #Morocco #Sanhaja #AbdallahibnYasin #Marrakech #Koutoubia #Sahara #BerberHistory #Maliki #litham #AlAndalus #IslamicHistory #MedievalAfrica #NorthAfrica #WestAfrica #EmpireBuilding #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo