Sijilmasa

Sijilmasa was a major medieval trading center located in Morocco. It sat at the northern edge of the Sahara Desert. The city was built within the Tafilalt oasis near the River Ziz. This location was vital because of a massive canal. The canal allowed for large-scale agriculture in a dry region. This farming capability provided the foundation for the city's economic success. Sijilmasa functioned as a key entrepôt, which is a place where goods are transferred.

The city's importance grew due to shifting desert trade routes. In the past, traders moved between Egypt and the Ghana Empire using a direct desert path. However, that route was often too harsh to use. Instead, caravans began traveling through the Maghreb to reach Sijilmasa. From there, they traveled south across the Sahara. This made Sijilmasa the northern terminus for the western trans-Sahara trade route. It became one of the most important commercial hubs in the Maghreb during the Middle Ages.

Early history began with the Sufrite Kharijites. They settled the area following Berber revolts against the Umayyads. Once the population reached about four thousand people, they established the city. They first elected a leader named 'Isa bin Mazid al-Aswad. After his 14-year rule, he was executed for corruption. Following this, Abu al-Qasim Samgu bin Wasul al-Miknasi took leadership. He belonged to the Miknasa tribe. His descendants formed the Midrar dynasty, which helped the city gain independence from the Abbasid Caliphate in 771.

The wealth of Sijilmasa was immense. The geographer Ibn Hawqal visited the region between 947 and 951 A.D. He recorded a story about a single bill issued to a trader in Awdaghust. That bill was worth 42,000 dinars. Ibn Hawqal noted he had never heard of such a large sum of money. Additionally, the writer Al-Masudi observed that gold from Sudan was minted in the city. This gold was turned into official coins for trade.

Political changes often brought instability to the city. In 905, Abd Allah al-Mahdi Billah and his son al-Qa'im arrived in the Maghreb. They were fleeing persecution from the Abbasids. Legend says they fulfilled a prophecy in Sijilmasa. During this time, the Midrar ruler, Prince Yasa', faced pressure from the Abbasids. Eventually, an army led by Abu 'Abdallah arrived in 909. They laid siege to the city. This led to the fragmentation of the Midrar dynasty and a takeover by the Maghrawa Berbers.

New dynasties continued to shape the city's character. The Almoravid movement, led by Abdallah ibn Yasin, took control in 1055. They imposed a very strict interpretation of Islam. They closed wine shops and destroyed musical instruments. Sijilmasa served as the Almoravids' only mint from 1058 to 1100. Later, the Almohad Caliphate took control in 1146. While the Almoravids were strict, the Almohads were known for extremely violent practices. This included a massacre of the city's Jewish population.

By the time the traveler Ibn Battuta arrived in 1352, the city was still beautiful. He praised its high-quality dates. However, the city eventually declined. The explorer Leo Africanus visited in the early 16th century and found the city destroyed. He saw high walls and water wheels, but the residents had moved to villages. Some historians, like Ibn Khaldun, suggest a lack of resources caused the fall. Later, the city was rebuilt in the 18th century by Sultan Moulay Ismail. It was destroyed again by the Ait Atta tribes in 1818. Today, the ruins are an endangered site being studied by archaeologists.