Un espace vécu en temps de guerre : les conflits armés dans le Maroc du XVIe siècle

Details

Supervisors

Mostaccio, Silvia

Faculty

Faculté de philosophie, arts et lettres

Degree label

Master [120] en histoire, à finalité approfondie

Abstract

enThis thesis examines the Portuguese presence in sixteenth-century Morocco through the lens of environment and territory. It highlights the interactions between Portuguese and Moroccan actors and the space they inhabit. The analysis focuses particularly on the violent dynamics and armed conflicts that unfold within this contested space. The approach combines military history and environmental history, taking into account climate, geography, topography, and natural resources, as well as their influence on the conduct of war. The primary source for this research is L’Afrique de Marmol by Luis del Mermol and Diego de Torres, a description of the African continent written by two Spanish chroniclers. This is supplemented by a substantial corpus of correspondence exchanged between Portuguese nobles. The study is structured around three main axes: a detailed description of the Moroccan environment (rivers, mountains, climate, agriculture, etc.), an investigation into the strategies of territorial control, and an analysis of the impact of environmental factors on armed conflict, with particular attention to the emblematic Battle of oued el-Makhazen. This work reveals a contested space, shaped and transformed by war. The environment emerges as a critical factor, whose knowledge and mastery determine the outcome of the Portuguese enterprise.