Commonly named by the arabs al-Mamlakat al-Maghribiyyah, which means The Western Kingdom (because is the most westerly of the Maghreb countries), Morocco is an islamic country and a constitutional monarchy. Its political capital is Rabat, although the largest city is Casablanca. Morocco administers also most of the disputed region of the Western Sahara as the Southern Provinces. The geography of Morocco spans from the Atlantic Ocean to the mountainous areas and to the Sahara Desert, a large part being mountainous. Its rich culture is a blend of Arab, Berber, European and African influences.
Inhabited since Paleolithic times, the area of present-day Morocco has been drawn into the Mediterranean world by the Phoenicians, included then in the empire of Carthage. The earliest known independent Moroccan state was the Berber kingdom of Mauretania, in the 1st century BC the region being occupied by the Roman Empire, in the 5th century AD by the Vandals and then by the Visigoths. One hundred years later northern Morocco became part of the Byzantine Empire, and in 670 took place the first Islamic conquest of the North African coastal plain, followed by centuries of increases and decreases, in which the Berbers have played an important role.
In the 15th century Portuguese and Spaniards occupied more ports. Moulay ar-Rasid, proclaimed in Fes, in 1666, sultan of Morocco, founded the Alaouite Dynasty, that reigns even today. In the middle of the 19th century, Morocco became a target of colonial tendencies of France, Spain, Great Britain and Germany. In 1912, France imposed its protectorate over the country, Spain occupied northern region and the city of Tangier received an international status. Morocco regained its independence in 1957.
The flag of Morocco is made of a red field (which represents the hardiness, the bravery, the strength and the valour), with a black-bordered green pentagram, often called Solomon’s seal, assimilated by the Muslims to Fatima, the Prophet’s daughter (which represents the link between God and the nation). From the 17th century on, the flags of the country were plain red, and since 1915 was added the green interlaced pentangle.
About the stamp
From what I understand, this is a yearly series of round stamp, named Solidarity Week, issued since 2003. The Mohammed V Foundation for the solidarity works to help poor people in the country.
References
Morocco - Wikipedia
Morocco - Flags of the World
sender: Hanane (direct swap)
sent from Taroudant (Morocco), on 23.11.2012
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