"Morocco as it is is a very fine place spoiled by civilization"

Richard H. Davis’s observation, “Morocco as it is is a very fine place spoiled by civilization,” reflects a layered response to rapid modernization and its impact on traditional cultures. The phrase “very fine place” acknowledges the country’s inherent beauty, distinctive customs, vibrant landscapes, and the rhythm of everyday life shaped by centuries of tradition. Davis appreciates Morocco in its existing form, economically simple, richly layered with history and sensory detail, organically developed over generations. This admiration points to a romanticized vision that often attracted travelers and writers of Davis’s era, who saw in Morocco an unspoiled, authentic world removed from the mechanical pace and artificiality of Western modernity.

Yet the idea that Morocco is “spoiled by civilization” introduces a critique of Westernization and the influx of foreign influences that accompanied colonization, global trade, and technological advancement. Civilization, in Davis’s usage, embodies the complex, sometimes destructive, processes by which modern infrastructures, values, and bureaucracy displace or erode traditional ways of life. Markets give way to organized shops, city skylines change with foreign architecture, and local languages and customs are supplanted or marginalized. Davis seems mournful about the loss of originality, spontaneity, and the subtle intricacies that make a culture unique. He perceives modernization not as progress but as an imposition, altering the delicate balance and natural grace of Moroccan society.

Underlying this reflection is the tension between the appeal of progress and the desire to preserve authentic cultural identities. The nostalgia in Davis’s remark is coupled with skepticism about whether what is gained through “civilization” truly compensates for what is lost. His sentiment resonates with a broader discourse among travelers and colonial critics who both admire and lament the changes brought by Western influence. Ultimately, Davis’s words express a longing for a world where tradition and individuality are not overshadowed, suggesting that civilization, however well-intentioned, may diminish the very qualities that make a place “very fine.”