Almoravid Dynasty

State · 1056–1205 CE · at its largest around 1111 CE

Berber reformist movement turned empire, founded among the Sanhaja of the Sahara, which built Marrakesh and ruled north-west Africa and al-Andalus until overthrown by the Almohads.

On its lands while it lasted

Volubilis (400 BCE – 1710 CE): Capital of Mauretania (212 BCE–42), Idrisids (793–974).
Trans-Saharan trade (c. 700–1600 CE): Camel caravans crossed the Sahara between Morocco and the Niger bend, exchanging North African goods and Saharan salt from mines such as Taghaza for West African gold, enriching the empires of Ghana, Mali and Songhai.
Reconquista (718–1492 CE): Centuries-long series of campaigns by Christian kingdoms to take the Iberian Peninsula from Muslim rule, ending with the fall of Granada in 1492.
El Cid (c. 1043 CE – 1099 CE): Castilian knight Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, who fought for Christian and Muslim rulers and conquered Valencia in 1094; hero of the Cantar de mio Cid.
Azougui (c. 1056–1147 CE): Capital of Almoravid Dynasty (1056–1147).
Aghmat (c. 1058–1070 CE): Capital of Almoravid Dynasty (1058–1070).
Marrakesh (c. 1070 CE): Founded by the Almoravids as their capital, Marrakesh became an imperial city that gave its name to Morocco.
Valladolid (1072 CE): Capital of Crown of Castile (1236–1515), Pro-Habsburg Spain (1702–1708).
Averroes (1126 CE – 1198 CE): Andalusian philosopher, physician and judge from Córdoba whose commentaries on Aristotle deeply influenced Christian scholasticism.
Guimarães (c. 1139 CE): Capital of County of Portugal (1139–1143).
Tinmel (c. 1139 CE): Capital of Almohad Caliphate (1139–1269).
Treaty of Zamora (1143 CE): Alfonso VII of León recognised Afonso Henriques as King of Portugal, establishing Portuguese independence.
Rabat (1146 CE): Capital of Morocco (1670–today).
Coimbra (c. 1147 CE): Capital of Kingdom of Portugal (1147–1256).
Paterna del Campo (c. 1147 CE): Capital of Taifa of Tejada (1147–1150).