Le Maroc Saharien Des Origines A 1670 French Edition Top May 2026
Le Maroc saharien des origines à 1670 , published in 1982 by Éditions Klincksieck, is a seminal work by French ethnologist and historian Denise Jacques-Meunié (also known as Djinn Jacques-Meunié). This massive two-volume study, totaling approximately 950–990 pages, provides the first comprehensive historical overview of the Saharan regions of Morocco—areas largely ignored by previous travelers and historians. Overview and Scope
The work is the result of fifteen years of field missions where the author lived among Saharan tribes, traveling by foot, mule, and camel to document societies that had remained isolated from external influences. It bridges the gap between written archives and local oral traditions to reveal a "history that had never been written". Tome 1: Des origines au XVIe siècle
Geography: Analyzes the physical barriers of the Atlas and the desert climate that shaped the region's economic and political life.
Antiquity to Early Middle Ages: Details significant events in the southern provinces, focusing heavily on the foundation and importance of the kingdom of Sijilmâsa, a critical trade crossroads. Tome 2: Du XVIe siècle à 1670 le maroc saharien des origines a 1670 french edition top
Saadian Dynasty: Examines the rise of the Saadians and the political landscape of southern Morocco from 1557 to 1603.
State Formation: Argues that the Saadians founded a state based on political structures rather than purely religious or genealogical virtue, unlike previous dynasties. Key Research Themes
Social Hierarchies: Detailed analysis of tribal structures and the protection nomades offered to sedentary populations. Le Maroc saharien des origines à 1670 ,
Architecture & Culture: Insights into oasis architecture (ksour), traditional customs, jewelry, and local languages.
Trade Infrastructure: Exploration of how regions like the Wadi Draa and Sijilmâsa served as essential links between the Mediterranean and Sahelian Africa. Bibliographic Information
Le Maroc saharien, des origines à 1670 - Editions Klincksieck Éditer ou traduire :
10. Pistes de lecture et d’édition française (pour une "édition française" ciblée)
- Éditer ou traduire :
- Chroniques médiévales arabes avec notices critiques et index toponymique.
- Recueils de documents commerciaux (contrats, lettres de change, actes de vente) avec commentaires historiques.
- Études anthropologiques sur structures tribales et pratiques oasiennes (avec cartes et plans).
- Apparats critiques recommandés :
- Cartographie historique des routes transsahariennes et oasis.
- Tables chronologiques (dynasties, événements clés 700–1670).
- Glossaire des termes arabes/amazighs et des unités économiques (salt weight, etc.).
- Transcriptions et traductions des principaux manuscrits locaux.
Thesis 2: The Economic Loop – Gold, Salt, and the Makhzen
The author uses caravan logs (barat and defense records) to prove that the Moroccan Sahara was not a peripheral colony but the economic engine of the empire.
- Sijilmassa (Rissani): Described as the richest city in North Africa during the 10th century, entirely dependent on Saharan gold.
- The Salt Tax: The book meticulously traces how the Sultan in Fez controlled the mines of Ijil (Mauritania) via Saharan vassals.
- Conclusion: Without the Saharan trade routes, there would have been no gold for the Moroccan dinar, and consequently, no golden age of Timbuktu.
2. Peuples, sociétés et structures tribales
- Berbères sahariens (Ait Atta, Ait Ouaouzguit, Sanhaja, Masmuda selon régions) : organisation en confédérations tribales, structures segmentaires, codes d'honneur (asabiyya).
- Arabisation et tribus arabes hilaliennes (depuis XIe siècle) : implantation de clans bédouins (Beni Hassan, Maqil) entraînant déplacement et brassage culturel.
- Esclaves, groupes sub-sahariens et populations nomades : rôle économique et social ; distinction entre nomades (chasse, élevage, commerce caravanier) et oasis sédentaires (agriculture, artisanat).
- Chefs, marabouts et confréries (zawaya) : importance religieuse et politique ; marabouts comme médiateurs, détenteurs d'autorité morale et parfois militaire.
5. Significance and Reception
This book is considered a classic in Maghrebian studies.
- Academic Value: It serves as a foundational text for understanding the historical depth of Morocco's claim to its "Southern Provinces" (Western Sahara), though Pascon writes as an objective historian analyzing historical borders and influences.
- Legacy: It remains a key reference for scholars studying North African history, Islamic societies, and desert geography. It helped shift the historiography of Morocco away from a purely "Imperial" focus (Fez/Marrakech politics) to include the vital peripheries.