Agdal

Agdal (Moroccan Arabic: أݣدال) is a historical concept in Morocco, referring to gardens or farmland owned by the Makhzen or the community, and forbidden to the public, whether permanently or during certain periods. Nowadays, the name is used for areas in some Moroccan cities such as Rabat, Fes, Marrakech and Meknes, which had historically been protected gardens, going back at least to the Almohad era in the 12th century.[1]

For other uses, see Agdal (disambiguation).

The word Agdal comes from Amazigh language, and means either "garden"[2] or "protected grazing land",[3] usually surrounded by a fence and forbidden to the public. Many places called "Agdal" today, especially within urban areas, were originally grazing lands for government-owned horses. In general, the term "Agdal" has the connotation of something private or forbidden.[4]

Agdals in Morocco

References
  1. Julio Navarro; Fidel Garrido; Íñigo Almela (2017-10-09). "The Agdal of Marrakesh (Twelfth to Twentieth Centuries): An Agricultural Space for Caliphs and Sultans. Part 1: History". Muqarnas Online. 34: 23–42. doi:10.1163/22118993_03401P003.
  2. "Le quartier d'Agdal à Rabat" [Agdal district in Rabat]. toutrabat.com (in French).
  3. Bynon, James (February 1974). "Robert Montagne: The Berbers: their social and political organisation. Translated… by David Seddon. xliv, 93 pp. London: Frank Cass, 1973. £2.75". Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies. 37 (3): 746–746. doi:10.1017/S0041977X0012823X. ISSN 0041-977X.
  4. محمد شفيق. الدارجة المغربية، مجال توارد بين الأمازيغية و العربية [Moroccan Darija, a space of exchange between Amazigh and Arabic].


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