TRADITIONAL CRAFTS OF MOUNTAIN DWELLERS IN PROTECTORATE-ERA MOROCCO: A CASE STUDY OF THE MIDDLE ATLAS MOUNTAINS

Colonialism brought about structural changes in the areas it dominated, with varying degrees of impact and depth of consequences from one country to another, and even from one region to another within the same country.Morocco was no exception to this pattern, despite being subjected to a form of indirect colonialism under the so-called "protectorate system."This was merely a guise imposed by Morocco's international situation and the intense competition among European powers for dominance over it, aimed at legitimizing the French occupation.The primary goal of the French wascomprehensive exploitation, and they implemented mechanisms to control Moroccan resources.The successive days of colonialism resulted in a duality in economic patterns, leading to a distinctionbetween modern and traditional sectors, and between industry and crafts.In other words, theprotectorate system imposed a duality in all fields, but the benefits and efficiency were skewedtowards sectors that concerned foreigners and the general residency, at the expense of sectors relatedto Moroccans in rural and urban areas.The handicraft sector is a prime example of this paradox andthe systematic marginalization employed by colonialism.Despite efforts to legally andorganizationally regulate traditional crafts, this intervention did not aim to develop them or elevate thestatus of their practitioners but rather sought to prevent them from being overwhelmed by the capitalist model.While most historical writings have focused on the state of crafts in Moroccan cities, they haveneglected the condition of rural crafts in general and those in the Atlas Mountains in particular, whichsuffered from neglect and abandonment.This neglect mirrored the condition of their inhabitants,despite their rich cultural heritage and deep connection to the