Western Sahara: History part 1

                 Along with my series on modern orientalism I will also be writing about Western Sahara. Western Sahara is an interesting place with an even more interesting history. Originally Inhabited by the Berber Speaking peoples, present day Western Sahara was been shaped a lot by Islam. Islam came across North Africa after the Arab conquest. Since the Arab expansion and empirical rule, North Africa has been a defined by the mix of Arab and Berber cultures. During one of the most interesting periods of time, the colonial period, Spain claimed Western Sahara as part of its territorial possessions.  In the north the country of Morocco later came under Spanish rule as well. Morocco had large influencing from a strong French protectorate as well. The Spanish rule of Western Sahara would change drastically during the mid-20^th century, starting with Moroccan independence in the 1950s.

 

               Further loss of Spanish colonies continued in the 1970s when the Spanish began to promise a possible established independent Western Sahara. Instead the countries of Mauritania and Morocco established a joint rule over the area because of historic claims. From here the Moroccan troops invaded and now control the region. With Algeria stepping in to support independence of the Sahrawi people (the Polisaro front). After the mid-1970s a number of small diplomatic changes occur which I will emphasize later. In the future I will begin to address the idea of whether or not Western Saharans could be on a tract for statehood or if they are left behind in an old colonial system.