Casablanca is located in the northwestern region of Morocco on the Atlantic Coast. With a population of over three million people, it is Morocco's largest city and economic capital. Since Casablanca became the chief port of Morocco, it has also become one of the largest, most popular, and most important cities in Africa. The port of Casablanca plays a major role in the city's popularity. It is the largest port in North Africa and is known to be the biggest artificial port on the planet. The port of Casablanca extends over eight kilometers and can handle over thirty-five ships at a time. The port of Casablanca has a huge effect on the city's history and significance because of its massive size and fertile land. The history of Casablanca has displayed many cultural and political changes from the time it was founded until now. What is known as Casablanca today was founded and settled by Berbers who named it Anfa. After the Berbers settled there pirates used this area to attack European trade ships. In 1468 the Portuguese destroyed the town and later returned in 1515. During their return they built a new town, which they named Casa Branca. Sultan Muhammad III rebuilt the town after an upsetting earthquake. After Spanish merchants and other European settlers began to settle there, the Spanish merchants named the newly built town Casablanca. In the late 1850's the population was approximately 1500 people. About a decade later the population had increased to around 4000 people. European Merchants built agencies and steamship services began to call. In the late 1800s the population rose to approximately 9000 people. Even though the port did not have official docks, it was considered valuable for French agents. In 1907 Europeans attempted to construct a modernized port and this led an attack on the worksite by the surrounding people of the country- side. Locals robbed the town after a French warship attacked, and French and Spanish troops