almoravid

The Almoravid period (1040-1147) marked the domination of the Berber Almoravid dynasty, founded by Abdallah Ibn Yassine. Originating in the Sahara, this dynasty unified a large part of North Africa and the south of the Iberian Peninsula (al-Andalus). The Almoravids imposed a strict interpretation of Sunni Malekite Islam and consolidated political and military power. They left a rich cultural and architectural heritage, notably in Marrakech and Fez.