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The Volubilis trip taught me that the city is a romanized city rather than a roman city, in which there was a rich history of the place before roman rule with Amazigh traditions and a history that persisted after with the coming of Moulay Idrissi. We were taught about the distinctions between the three neighborhoods present at the site, including the partition which belonged to the upper class elite and the plebeian neighborhood which belonged to the working class.

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The Volubilis lecture during the trip went beyond the readings in class. I was able to learn more about the specific functions and names of the archaeological sites, like the Decumanus Maximus, which was the main street used for shopping. I was also able to find out that the Tangier Gate was the pathway used to travel to Tangier.

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The reading provides a look into how Volubilis changed in the early Islamic era. It demonstrates how, in the eighth century, this ancient Roman city developed into a major political and religious hub. The way that archaeology reveals cultural and social adaptation in addition to political change caught my attention the most. A community that swiftly incorporated Islam into its daily life while retaining strong Berber roots is shown by the discovery of early mosques, graves, and coins.

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I learned a lot from the readings about the history of Volubilis and the different populations that have inhabited it throughout history. I know that Volubilis was a larger town even before the roman settlement of it and that it was inhabited by a larger population in the third century BC that used the punic language but other than that we do not know much about them. I know that later on Juba II did much to develop Volubilis into a metropolis during his rule in the first century AD. The lectures also made a point that even after the roman administration abandoned Volubilis as an outpost due to threats from nearby population it remained very Romanised.

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Chapter 1 explains that Morocco is a layered country with many cultures leaving their presence.

It also describes how Carthaginians and later Romans settled in Morocco and built towns for trade and farming.

Chapter 2 shows how Islam spread to North Africa after the 7th century and changed the region’s culture.

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_Volubilis was not only a Roman city but also a major urban center in early Islamic Morocco, known later as Walīla.

_The article emphasizes its continuous occupation — from Roman times through the Christian Berber period and into the early Islamic era (8th–9th centuries).

-It became the capital of Idrīs I, founder of the first Islamic dynasty in Morocco.

_Excavations revealed evidence of Berber, Arab, and Idrisid influences, showing cultural blending rather than complete replacement of older traditions

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Volubilis, near the city of Meknes in Morocco, was once full of life and activity. Built over two thousand years ago, it became famous for its rich farmlands and olive oil. Today, we can almost imagine the people who once lived there merchants, farmers, and families going about their daily lives. Even though time and earthquakes have left their mark, Volubilis still stands proudly as a beautiful window into Morocco’s past.

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Volubilis, near the city of Meknes in Morocco, was once full of life and activity. Built over two thousand years ago, it became famous for its rich farmlands and olive oil. Today, we can almost imagine the people who once lived there merchants, farmers, and families going about their daily lives. Even though time and earthquakes have left their mark, Volubilis still stands proudly as a beautiful window into Morocco’s past.

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The readings gave more detailed explanations about Volubilis and its cultural meaning. They helped connect what we saw during the visit to a deeper understanding of Moroccan identity and history.

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During the trip, we learned about the plebeian and patrician neighborhoods, as well as the Governmnet sector of the city. The city was a Berber city before there was Roman influence, and after the Romans decided that the city wasn't of use to them, they left. The cite of Volubilis has been heavily excavated- much of the present-day site is a rebuild.

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the important i got from the reading is that Morocco’s history is built on many layers(that's why its called layered) of different civilizations. like how Roman culture, local Berber life, and early Islamic influence all came together in one place. I find it interesting that even after the Roman period ended, the city continued to have life and meaning for new rulers but at the same time keep some things that are part of the Romans culture. It reminds me that places can change their purpose and identity over time, but their history still remains visible through the ruins.

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At Volubilis, we saw this layering of Roman ruins, Berber influence, and later Islamic history all in one place. It was one of these towns, showing Roman streets, mosaics, olive presses, and temples.

After the Romans left, Idris I came to Morocco and chose Volubilis as his home base to start spreading Islam and ruling.

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The article that we read about Volubilis provided some history of how the city interacted with centuries of civilizations, mentioning how it was a Berber settlement that got Romanized. Later became Islamized with the Arabs. The readings included some images of the aerial views of the ruins, with some descriptions of the information in the pictures.

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the reading discussed how the city used to be called Walila and the geographical importance of Volubilis, being that it is positioned between the Mediterranean, Atlantic and Sahara. The Town is known to be the capital of one of the earliest Islamic states in Morocco.

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During the trip i realized that most of the things I've learned about Volubilis in the past, especially during middle school and high school, lacked so much information and were somehow misleading. For instance, it was my first time learning that Volubilis is a romanized city and not a Roman one, plus the fact that the all houses spoke Berber except for the governor's home, and the part that shocked me the most was the fact that the man of the house has the right of life or death of whoever's in his house, including guests (according to the law).

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During our trip, we were able to look into this historical place in a more visible and tangible way. Walking among the ruins allowed us to dig deeper into its history, not through excavation but through observation. We could imagine how the Romans used to live, see their houses, public buildings, and beautiful mosaics up close, and appreciate the architecture in great detail. Seeing the city’s layout, streets, and olive presses helped us visualize the Roman way of life more clearly than any text or picture could.

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From our previous reading, we discussed how preserving historical sites like Volubilis can help strengthen Moroccan citizenship and deepen cultural understanding. Such preservation efforts do more than protect ancient ruins—they serve as reminders of the country’s rich and diverse past. Volubilis, for instance, reflects layers of Moroccan identity that have evolved through Roman, Islamic, and Amazigh influences, all of which contribute to the country’s unique cultural fabric.

This idea connects to our latest reading, which describes Morocco as a “layered country.” I find this description particularly accurate because Morocco’s history is made up of multiple phases of history, each leaving its own distinct mark on the land, architecture, language, and traditions.

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In the readings we saw that The Volubilis (WALILA) changed from civilization to civilization 1st from Berbers to a Roman city to one of the most important cities in the Islamic Era being the Capital of the idrisid state. The Volubilis has a very diverse architecture with the berber small houses and the big pillars of Romans and also the islamic architecture like Mosque, Hammam...

The city located in a strategic placement with a good land for agriculture and beside Oued Rhoumane, it good for daily life and also for battles. After all those years of Glory WALILA is now abondoned and became a touristic and historical site.

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I got to know that the first Islamic Morocco was influenced by a mixture of Roman traditions and the new Islamic rule. Archeology, notably at Volubilis/Walila, displays the manner in which native Berber societies transformed religion, economy and construction, transforming Rome into an Islamic center. The everyday life and political changes are reflected in material culture such as coins, mosques, and household tools, and the alliances, such as the Idris I and the Berbers, played an important role in the spread of Islam.