BARGHAWATA
From approximately the 2nd to the 12th century CE, an Amazigh confederation within the Zenata and Masmuda Amazigh groups lived in the Tamesna province located on the Atlantic coast of Morocco. The civilization, known as the Barghawata civilization, was famous for its status as an important confederation with more than 12,000 cavalries. The civilization holds enduring influence and continues to be known today for its heterodox practice of Islam. The Barghawata people’s legacy and information were preserved mainly through extern travelers and geographers, such as Ibn Hawkal (circa 10th century), Al-Bakri (circa 13th century), and the well-known Ibn Khaldun [i] (14th century).
Links
* The image for Barghawata 101 comes from this link: Barghawata Coins
[i] Ibn Ḵh̲aldūn, Hist. des Berb., trans. De Slane, Algiers 1852, ii, 124-133, iii, 222.
[ii] revolt of Maysara
[iii] Tarif al-Matghari
[iv] the Almoravids’ conquest
[v] the Almohad Dynasty
[vi] the Umayyads
[vii] a holy war in the region of Salé
[viii] the Idrisids
[ix] heritage and influence still remain for certain practices
[x] eclectic religious doctrine
[xi] many prior movements in Islam
[xii] Bakrī, Descr. de l’Afr. Sept, ed. de Slane, Algiers 1911, 134-141 (tr. of idem, Algiers 1913, 259-271).
[xiii] scholars with hostile views of the Barghawata polity and religion
[xiv] Le Tourneau, Roger. 1960. “Barghawata”. In EI2, Vol. I, Leiden: E.J. Brill.
[xv] Talbi, Mohamed. 1973. “Hérésie, acculturation, et nationalisme des Berbères bargwata”. In Actes du premier congrès d'études des cultures mèditerranèenes d'influence arabo-berbère, Algiers: Société nationale d'édition et de diffusion.
[xvi]Lounaouci, Mouloud. 1995. Le Royaume des Barghawata: Un royaume berbère original, très mal connu. Imazighen Ass-a, 2(3): 37–8.
[xvii] Amazigh/Berber Revolt of 739/740
[xviii] traditional Amazigh mythology
[xviii] Tamesna region
[xx] important food resources and communication
By Tilila Bakrim
Amazing Amazigh on Instagram: @amazing.amazigh.off