مدينة مكناسة الزيتون دراسة في احوالها العامة خلال عصري الموحدين وبني مرين == City of Meknassa ez - Zeitoun during the Era of BeniMerin Dynasties and Muwahidin
Author name:
مروة عيدان وادي الاسدي
Supervisor name:
محمد عبد الله عبد المعموري
General topic:
History
Specific topic:
Islamic History
Degree:
Master
University:
University of Babylon - College Of Education For Human Sciences - Department Of History
Language:
Arabic
University location:
Babylon
First pages:
11T3317 - p.pdf
Abstract:
The issue of Meknassaez - Zeitoun City is one of the most important historical subjects neglected by researcher for many reasons. Prominent of these reasons is lack of available historical sources on this topic. This City was established during the reign of Idrisid Dynasty. The first reference to the City was made by Ibn Hazm at the end of Idrisie Era. Historians and geographers did not mention anything about the City until the enf of the Murabiteen (Al - moravid) Era.Sources have indicated that Al - moravid built walls around the City of Meknassaez - Zeitoun; they also set up a citadel to protect and defend the City from the attacks of Muwahidin; this citadel was called Takrart, and it is considered the first structure around which the City was developed and prospered after that in the eras of Muwahidin and BeniMerin. It is worth mentioning that this City was established by a one of the branches of Meknas Tribe who moved to that place in the mid of Hijri third century (corresponding to the nine century AD.) due to tribal conflicts between Meknass tribes. It was named Meknassaez - Zeitoun in order to be distinguished from MeknassaTaza which is the native land of Berber Meknassa Tribe. The city of Meknassaez - Zeitoun became an urban city after that, outshining other cities during the reign of Murabiteen. Later on, it became a full - blown city which had its political, social, economic, and intellectual features in the eras of Muwahideen and BeniMerin; it also became an important strategic and logistic place since it is located in the middle of commercial road between the City of Fes and Cella, the marine city which had been a center for the concentration of Muwahideen armies. This gave the city a special importance in the era of Al - Muwahideen and BeniMerin dynasties when it became a center for supplying armies with provisions and equipment. The afore - mentioned explains the important role of the Meknassaez - Zeitoun City through times, making it a subject worthy to be explored and studied. This study is to shed light on this important city which has a significant role in the history of Morocco, though its features started to dwindle due to its association with the City of Fes. It is well - known that the study of cities in any given period is not an easy task. A researcher should delve in historical sources which are few since only very few historians wrote about this city. This study faced some difficulties due to lack of studies on the subject of Meknassaez - Zeitoun in the era of Muwahideen and BeniMerin, and also due to lack of historical sources. Meknassaez - Zeitoun is only mentioned sporadically here and there. Besides, most of the sources do not mention some aspects of the city such as the establishment of the City and its founders. For these reason, it was a long and difficult way to walk through. I, however, decided to wade in this subject. I reviewed and read different sources and books which lightened the way for me until I reached to my destination. It is necessary to mention that this topic is not an easy one; rather, it is a very hard one, but the spirit of challenge was one of the reasons behind the completion of this study, despite all frustrations and pressure to leave writing on this subject, for the reasons afore - mentioned. The confidence of my honest supervisor Assistant Professor Mr. Mohammed Abdullah Al - Ma’mouri in my efforts enhanced this spirit of challenge, and we came out with an integrated and coherent academic study on this beautiful city.Chapters of the Study The nature of the study required to be divided into an introduction and three chapters, as well as a conclusion, annexes, Arabic and English references, and a summary abstract of the study in English. The introduction includes the topic and methodology of the study, and review of most important references of the study. Chapter one : this chapter is divided into three topics; the first one deals with the derivation of the name of the city, its location, rivers, villages and towns, as well as its description. Most of the information in this topic is derived from geographic sources. Topic two involves the political situation of the City since its foundation till the Muwahideen Reign. The last topic deals with the political situation of Meknassaez - Zeitoun during BeniMerin Reign. Chapter two : This chapter has the title “The social and economic life of Meknassaez - Zeitoun in the era of Muwahideen and BeniMerin dynasties”. It is divided into two topics; the first topic, social and religious life, sheds light on the population of thCe city comprising of Berber, Arabs, Andalusians, Romans, and Jews. These ethnicities had their own characteristics and social values. The topic also copes with the situation of women in theMeknassaez - Zeitoun society and its social institutions. It also deals with its most important ceremonies, customs, and behavior of individual and description of their houses. The second topic tackles the “Economic life” which explains the agricultural, commercial and industrial activities in the city. Chapter three : It is dedicated to the study of intellectual movement in Meknassaez - Zeitoun City. It is divided into four topics; the first topic deals with exploring educational institutions inMeknassaez - Zeitoun; the second one tackles the study of religious sciences which include reciting and interpretation of Quran, prophetic tradition, jurisprudence, and Sufism, along with most prominent scholars in each of these sciences whether a native of the City or those who resided in it and spread his knowledge in the City. Topic three involves linguistic sciences and their prominent scholars who excelled in this field whether a native of the City or those who resided in it and spread his knowledge in the City. The fourth topic deals with pure sciences. The conclusion of the study involves a general summary of the study and the main results of the study
