Mauretania Tingitana

  • Mauretania Tingitana was a Roman Province which was located in modern Morocco.

1. History

  • Pre-Roman history:
    • Megaliths from the Bronze Age, Mzoura stone circle near Sidi el Yamani
    • The Berbers occupied the region from the Bronze Age onwards.
    • It was an Independent Berber Kingdom, which came under the Carthaginian orbit of influence
  • Acquisition by Rome:
  • Timeline of this Province:
  • Under The Republic:
  • After Augustus reconstituted the Republic into an Empire (27 BCE):
    • 23 CE Ptolemy of Mauretania, his son, who had been educated in Rome, replaced him.
    • 40 CE Executed by Caligula
    • 44 CE Claudius declared Numidia an Imperial Province, which was later divided into Mauretania Tingitana, and Mauretania Caesariensis. The border was the Moulouya River, 37 miles (60km) west of Oran.
  • After Diocletian’s Reforms (297 CE):
    • Mauretania divided into 3 Provinces, with Mauretania Tingitana under the Diocese of Hispaniae (The Spains)
  • After Death of Theodosius (395 CE) and the split between Eastern and Western Empire:
  • Famous Persons from this Province:
  • Chief archeological Finds:
  • Historic Battle Sites:
  • Main Historical Sources for this Province:

2. Geography

  • Capital City:
  • Chief Cities:
    • Volubilis (Ruins), Julia Constantia Zilil (Asilah), Julia Valentia Banasa (Ruins at Sidi Ali Boujenoun), Julia Campestris Babba, Rabat (Sala Colonia or Chellah), Lixus (Larache), Anfa (Casablanca), Mogador (Essaouira north of Rabat), Tocolosida, Tamouda, Rusadir, Aquae Dacicae, Colonia Aelia, Ad Septrem Fratres, Ceuta (Septem), Melilla
  • Location Today:
  • Neighbouring Roman Provinces:
  • Climate and Temperature Today:
  • Mediterranean Climate:
    • Tangier and the Rif Mountains have a Mediterranean Climate.
    • Winter: October to April, rainfall and sunshine.
    • Summer: May to September, almost continuous sunshine.
  • Maritime Temperate Climate:
    • Casablanca and the Atlantic coast
      • experiences the most rainfall in Winter. Winter Temp around 17°C Summer Temp in mid 20’s °C. But it gets hotter away from the Coast.
    • Agadir and the coast further south
      • gets drier as the Sahara gets closer. Winter temperatures around 20°C Summer Temperatures in Mid 20’s °C
    • Atlas Mountains
      • these have several climates, Mediterranean, Maritime Temperate and there is snow on the peaks all year round.
  • Desert Climate:
    • East Atlas Mountains
      • the climate changes and becomes drier and very warm.
      • As the Mountains slope into the Sahara, Oases, Sand Dunes and Rocky desert outcrops appear, making this a Desert Climate.
  • Main Geographical features:
  • Main Rivers:
    • R. Moulouya, R. Sebou, R. Sous, R. Oum er-Rbia.
  • Mountain Ranges:
    • Atlas Mountains
      • Highest Peak is Jbel Toubkal 13,665 ft (4,165m) running northeast to southwest.
    • Rif Mountains
      • In the North, extending from Tangier in the west to the Moulouya River in the east. They are not part of the Atlas mountains.
      • The highest Peak is Djebel Tidirhine 8,058 ft (2,456m).
  • Islands:
    • Isles Purpuraires
      • located opposite Essaouira, of which Mogador Island is the main island.
      • It was the site of a Purple Dye Murex Factory.

3. Political Organisation

  • Province Type:
  • Governor:
  • Tribes and Population:
    • Mauri (Berbers)
  • Language:
    • Latin and Berber (still spoken today and known to the Romans as ‘Barbaricae’).

4. Military Organisation

5. Economy

  • Chief Exports:
    • Grain, Olive Oil, Wood.
    • Murex
      • Purple Dye used to dye the Emperors clothes purple from Mogador,
    • Wild Animals for the Arenas: Barbary Lions and Leopards.
  • Agriculture and Fishing:
  • Manufacturing:
  • Mines:
  • Mints:

6. Transport

  • Roads:
    • North African Roman Road
      • Morocco to Egypt
    • Roman Road
    • Possible
      • Atlantic Coastal Road down to Mogador
    • Roman Road
      • to the Eastern Province of Mauretania.
    • Roman Road
      • Rabat (Sala Colonia)-Lixus-Julia Constantia Zilil
    • Roman Road
      • Rabat (Sala Colonia)-Casablanca (Anfa)
  • Waterways:
  • Ports:
  • Ancient Trade Routes:
    • Strait of Gibraltar and the Atlantic coastal sea route for Goods from Africa.
    • Canary Current
      • This took ships down past the Canary Islands and Cape Verde Islands. Getting back meant having to sail northwest until they picked up the Westerlies which brought them back. There is no information about Roman vessels on this Route, but it is a strong probability since before the Romans, Phoenician vessels had succeeded in trading with Africa.
    • In 1 BCE Augustus planned a circumnavigation of Africa from Egypt to Mogador and Sala Colonia, but it never took place.
    • Although Camel Caravans are known to have existed between Morocco and Mali from the 8th century CE onwards, they are not documented during the Roman Period. However, the Roman Trade Routes between Mali and Libya and Algeria are well known.
  • Number of Days taken to travel from this Province to Rome:

7. Relationship with Rome

  • Stable and wealthy Province

8. History of Christianity in this Province

  • St. Marcellus Martyred at Tangier on 28 July 298 CE.

9. Roman Authors describing this Province

 

Mauretania Tingitana

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