Almoravids

The Almoravids were a Berber Muslim dynasty and reform movement that arose in the western Maghreb in the 11th century. Emerging from the Sanhaja confederation, they organized a theocratic yet centralized state, promoting a strict interpretation of Islam and military discipline.

Origins and rise: The movement began under the religious teacher Abdallah ibn Yasin in the 1040s. After gathering followers, they consolidated power under military leaders such as Yusuf ibn Tashfin, who established Marrakech as the capital in the 1060s. From there, the Almoravids expanded across present-day Morocco, western Algeria, and into al-Andalus (Islamic Iberia).

In Iberia: By the late 11th century they controlled large parts of the peninsula, opposing the Christian kingdoms. They defeated Alfonso VI at the Battle of Sagrajas in 1086 and governed much of Iberia for several decades before the rise of the Almohad movement and internal strain contributed to their decline in the mid-12th century.

Administration and influence: The Almoravids adhered to the Maliki school of Islamic law and pursued a centralized administration based on military governance. They fostered and protected trans-Saharan trade networks, and their rule supported urban and architectural development in the territories they controlled, most famously establishing Marrakech as a major cultural and commercial center.

Decline and legacy: Internal factionalism, overextension, and external pressures led to the collapse of the dynasty by around 1147, when the Almohads defeated or absorbed many of their domains. The Almoravids left a lasting imprint on Maghreb and Iberia, including religious influence, legal institutions, urban culture, and the expansion of trans-Saharan trade.