Marrakech was conquered by the Almohads in 1147 and it was the third Almohad sultan, Yacoub el Mansour, who had the greatest impact on the city. He was credited with completing the exquisite Koutoubia Mosque as well as many other mosques, palaces and gardens.

After two centuries of rule by the Almohads, Marrakech was taken over by the Merenids who decided to move the capital to Fez. The city fell into decline until the Saadians conquered it in 1554, when it was once again restored as the capital. Prosperity returned thanks to the influence of the powerful Saadian sultan, Ahmed el Mansour. He created the El Badi Palace and the Saadian Tombs, where many of his family have been laid to rest.

During the late 19th century, European colonisers were keen on controlling Morocco for its trade benefits. The French succeeded in forcing Sultan Moualy Hafid to sign a treaty placing the throne under French protectorate. Sultan Mohammed V led an independence party that ended French rule in 1956. He also made sure that his dynasty would continue and promoted himself to king in 1957.

After his death in 1962, he was succeeded by his son, Hassan II, who made economic development a priority. Despite this, the country still suffers from high unemployment and poverty, and many survive on basic agriculture. The king has recently been credited with helping to develop and protect women's rights by introducing legislation regarding inequality.