See Also

North Africa

North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost North

North is one of the four [i] cardinal directions [i], specifically the direction that, in Western culture [i] ... 

 region of the Africa Africa

Africa is one of the greatest sized continents of the Earth.... 

n continent Continent

A continent is a large continuous landmass [i]. ... 

. Geopolitically, the UN United Nations

name = United Nations Nations Unies ... 

 definition Subregion

A subregion is a conceptual unit which derives from a larger region [i] or continent [i] and is usually ... 

 of Northern Africa includes the following seven territories: The Spanish Spain

Spain, officially the Kingdom of Spain , is a Europe [i]an parliamentary monarchy [i]. ... 

 
plazas de soberana  are on the southern coast of the Mediterranean Sea Mediterranean Sea

The Mediterranean Sea is a part of the Atlantic Ocean [i] almost completely enclosed by land: on the nor ... 

, surrounded by Morocco on land. The Spanish Canary Islands Canary Islands

The Canary Islands IPA [i] are an archipelago [i] of the Kingdom of Spain [i] ... 

 and Portuguese Portugal

Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic is located in southwestern Europe [i] on the Iberian Peninsula [i] ... 

 Madeira Islands Madeira

Madeira is a Portuguese [i] archipelago [i] in the north Atlantic Ocean [i] that lies between ... 

 in the North Atlantic Ocean Atlantic Ocean

The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest ocean [i], covering approximately one-fifth of the Earth [i]'s ... 

 are northwest of the Africa Africa

Africa is one of the greatest sized continents of the Earth.... 

n mainland and often included in this region.

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Timeline

238   In North Africa, Legio III ''Augusta'', is dissolved. Until its reconstitution in 253, Africa is defended by auxiliary troops only.

300   Elephant Elephant

Elephantidae is a family [i] of pachyderm [i], and the only remaining family in th ... 

s became extinct from North Africa by this date.

355   An instrument to measure the density of liquids is developed in North Africa.

429   Vandals Vandals

The Vandals were an East Germanic tribe [i] that entered the late Roman Empire [i] during the 5th century [i] ... 

 under Geiseric cross from the Iberian Peninsula Iberian Peninsula

The Iberian Peninsula, or Iberia, is located in the extreme southwest of Europe [i]. ... 

 into Roman Ancient Rome

Ancient Rome was a civilization [i] that grew out of the city-state [i] of Rome [i], founded in the Italian Peninsula [i] ... 

 North Africa.

435   The Vandal Vandals

The Vandals were an East Germanic tribe [i] that entered the late Roman Empire [i] during the 5th century [i] ... 

s are allowed territory in North Africa.

442   The Romans conclude a treaty with Geiseric, acknowledging the conquests of the Vandal Vandals

The Vandals were an East Germanic tribe [i] that entered the late Roman Empire [i] during the 5th century [i] ... 

 nation in North Africa.

533   Belisarius Belisarius

Flavius Belisarius was one of the greatest general [i]s of the Byzantine Empire [i] and one of the most ... 

, lands in North Africa and attacks the Vandals Vandals

The Vandals were an East Germanic tribe [i] that entered the late Roman Empire [i] during the 5th century [i] ... 

.

534   Gelimer surrenders to Byzantine Byzantine Empire

Byzantine Empire is the term conventionally used since the 19th century [i] to describe the Greek-spea ... 

 general Belisarius Belisarius

Flavius Belisarius was one of the greatest general [i]s of the Byzantine Empire [i] and one of the most ... 

, after spending a miserable winter in the mountains of Numidia Numidia

Numidia was an ancient Berber [i] kingdom in North Africa [i] that later became a Roman province [i], an ... 

. The Vandal Vandals

The Vandals were an East Germanic tribe [i] that entered the late Roman Empire [i] during the 5th century [i] ... 

 kingdom of North Africa ends, and the provinces return to the Byzantine Empire.

643   Arab armies win their first North African victory in Tripoli Tripoli

Tripoli is the capital [i] city of Libya [i]. ... 

.

1269   The Almohad Almohad

The Almohad Dynasty were a Berber [i] Muslim religious [i] power which founded the fifth Moorish [i] ... 

 dynasty of caliph Caliph

Caliph is the title for the Islamic leader of the Ummah [i], or community of Islam [i]. ... 

s (not universally accepted) that once ruled most of North Africa and Al-Andalus Al-Andalus

Al-Andalus was the Arabic name given to those parts of the Iberian Peninsula [i] governed by Muslims fro ... 

 (Moorish Moors

The Moors were the medieval Muslim [i] inhabitants of al-Andalus [i] and the Maghreb [i] and western Africa [i] ... 

 Spain Spain

Spain, officially the Kingdom of Spain , is a Europe [i]an parliamentary monarchy [i]. ... 

) is extinguished when Idris II is murdered in the dynasty's last remaining possession, Marrakesh Marrakech

Marrakech or Marakesh , known as the "Red City or Al Hamra," is a city in southwestern [[Morocco]... 

.

   More Events >>



Encyclopedia

North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost North

North is one of the four [i] cardinal directions [i], specifically the direction that, in Western culture [i] ... 

 region of the Africa Africa

Africa is one of the greatest sized continents of the Earth.... 

n continent Continent

A continent is a large continuous landmass [i]. ... 

. Geopolitically, the UN United Nations

name = United Nations
Nations Unies
... 

 definition Subregion

A subregion is a conceptual unit which derives from a larger region [i] or continent [i] and is usually ... 

 of Northern Africa includes the following seven territories:


*Algeria Algeria

Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria is a country in north Africa [i],... 


*Egypt Egypt

[i] country in [[North Africa]... 


*Libya Libya

Libya , officially the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya [i] , is a country in North Africa [i] ... 


*Morocco Morocco

The Kingdom of Morocco is a country in North Africa [i]. ... 



*Sudan Sudan

Sudan is the largest country [i] by area in Africa [i], situated in Northern Africa [i]. ... 


*Tunisia Tunisia

Tunisia , officially the Tunisian Republic , is a country situated on the Mediterranean [i] coast ... 


*Western Sahara Western Sahara

Western Sahara is one of the most sparsely populated territories in the world [i]... 




The Spanish Spain

Spain, officially the Kingdom of Spain , is a Europe [i]an parliamentary monarchy [i].... 

 plazas de soberanía  are on the southern coast of the Mediterranean Sea Mediterranean Sea

The Mediterranean Sea is a part of the Atlantic Ocean [i] almost completely enclosed by land: on the nor... 

, surrounded by Morocco on land.

The Spanish Canary Islands Canary Islands

The Canary Islands IPA [i] are an archipelago [i] of the Kingdom of Spain [i] ... 

 and Portuguese Portugal

Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic is located in southwestern Europe [i] on the Iberian Peninsula [i] ... 

 Madeira Islands Madeira

Madeira is a Portuguese [i] archipelago [i] in the north Atlantic Ocean [i] that lies between ... 

 in the North Atlantic Ocean Atlantic Ocean

The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest ocean [i], covering approximately one-fifth of the Earth [i]'s ... 

 are northwest of the Africa Africa

Africa is one of the greatest sized continents of the Earth.... 

n mainland and often included in this region.

Geographically, the Azores, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Chad, Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Djibouti are sometimes included.

The Maghreb Maghreb

The Maghreb... 

 includes Western Sahara , Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Libya. North Africa generally is often included in common definitions of the Middle East Middle East

The Middle East is a subcontinent [i] for the historical [i] and cultural [i] ... 

, since they in many respects have closer ties to Western Asia Southwest Asia

Southwest Asia or Southwestern Asia is the southwestern portion [i] of Asia [i]. ... 

 than to sub-saharan Africa. In addition, the Sinai Peninsula Sinai Peninsula

The Sinai Peninsula or Sinai is a triangle-shaped peninsula [i] lying between the Mediterranean Sea [i] ... 

 of Egypt is part of Asia Asia

Asia is the largest and most populous continent [i] or region, depending on the definition.... 

, making Egypt a transcontinental country Transcontinental country

A transcontinental nation is a country [i] belonging to more than one continent [i]. ... 

.

Landscape

The Atlas Mountains Atlas Mountains

The Atlas Mountains are a mountain range [i] in northwest Africa [i] extending about 2,400 km through ... 

, which extend across much of Morocco Morocco

The Kingdom of Morocco is a country in North Africa [i]. ... 

, northern Algeria Algeria

Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria is a country in north Africa [i],... 

 and Tunisia Tunisia

Tunisia , officially the Tunisian Republic , is a country situated on the Mediterranean [i] coast ... 

, are part of the fold mountain system which also runs through much of Southern Europe Southern Europe

Southern Europe is a region [i] of the Europe [i]an continent [i]. ... 

. They recede to the south and east, becoming a steppe Steppe

In physical geography [i], a steppe , pronounced in English as step, is a plain [i] without tree [i] ... 

 landscape before meeting the Sahara desert which covers more than 90% of the region. The sediments of the Sahara overlie an ancient plateau of crystalline rock Crystal

In chemistry [i] and mineralogy [i], a crystal is a solid [i] in which the constituent atom [i]s, molecule [i] ... 

, some of which is more than four billion years old.

People


The inhabitants of North Africa are generally divided in a manner roughly corresponding to the principal geographic regions of North Africa: the Maghreb Maghreb

The Maghreb... 

, the Nile Valley Nile

The Nile ; Ancient Egyptian [i] iteru), a river [i] in Africa [i], is accepted by most authorities a ... 

, and the Sahara Sahara

The Sahara is the world's largest hot desert [i], and second largest desert [i] at over 9,000,000 km, a ... 

. Northwest Africa on the whole is believed to have been inhabited by Berbers Berber people

The Berbers are an ethnic group [i] indigenous to Northwest Africa [i], speaking the Berber languages [i] ... 

 or Amazigh Berber people

The Berbers are an ethnic group [i] indigenous to Northwest Africa [i], speaking the Berber languages [i] ... 

s since the beginning of recorded history, while the eastern part of Northern Africa has been home to the Egyptians, Abyssinans and Nubians Nubians

The Nubians are an ethnic group in Egypt [i] and Sudan [i]. ... 

 , although ancient Egyptians record extensive contact in their Western desert with peoples that appear to have been Berber Berber people

The Berbers are an ethnic group [i] indigenous to Northwest Africa [i], speaking the Berber languages [i] ... 

 or proto-Berber Berber people

The Berbers are an ethnic group [i] indigenous to Northwest Africa [i], speaking the Berber languages [i] ... 

. Following the Muslim-Arab conquest in the 7th century AD, the region underwent a process of Arabization Arabization

Arabization is the gradual transformation of an area into one that speaks Arabic [i] and... 

 and Islamization that has defined its cultural landscape ever since. Questions of ethnic identity usually rely on an affiliation with Arabism Arab nationalism

Arab nationalism refers to a common nationalist [i] ideology in the wider Arab world [i].... 

 and/or Islam Islam

Islam is a monotheistic [i] religion [i] based upon the Qur'an [i], which adherents believe w ... 

, or with indigenous cultures and religions. Northern Africans exhibit a wide range of phenotypical characteristics from fair to dark-complexioned.

Culture

The people of the Maghreb and the Sahara speak various dialects of Berber Berber languages

The Berber languages are a group of closely related language [i]s mainly spoken in Morocco [i] and Algeria [i] ... 

 and Arabic Arabic language

The Arabic language , or simply Arabic , is the largest member of the Semitic [i] branch of the Afro-Asiatic [i] ... 

, and almost exclusively follow Islam Islam

Islam is a monotheistic [i] religion [i] based upon the Qur'an [i], which adherents believe w ... 

. The Arabic Arabic language

The Arabic language , or simply Arabic , is the largest member of the Semitic [i] branch of the Afro-Asiatic [i] ... 

 and Berber Berber languages

The Berber languages are a group of closely related language [i]s mainly spoken in Morocco [i] and Algeria [i] ... 

 groups of languages are distantly related, both being members of the Afro-Asiatic family Afro-Asiatic languages

The Afro-Asiatic languages constitute a language family [i] with about 375 languages and more than 300 ... 

. The Sahara dialects are notably more conservative than those of coastal cities . Over the years, Berber people Berber people

The Berbers are an ethnic group [i] indigenous to Northwest Africa [i], speaking the Berber languages [i] ... 

s have been influenced by other cultures with which they came in contact: Nubians Nubians

The Nubians are an ethnic group in Egypt [i] and Sudan [i]. ... 

, Greeks Greeks

The Greeks are an ethnic group [i] mostly found in the southern Balkan peninsula [i] of southeastern Europe [i] ... 

, Phoenicians Phoenicia

Phoenicia was an ancient civilization [i] centred in the north of ancient Canaan [i], with its heartland ... 

, Egyptians Ancient Egypt

Ancient Egypt was a long-lived ancient civilization [i] in north-eastern Africa [i]. ... 

, Ethiopians Ethiopia

Ethiopia, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country situated in the Horn of Africa [i] ... 

, Romans Ancient Rome

Ancient Rome was a civilization [i] that grew out of the city-state [i] of Rome [i], founded in the Italian Peninsula [i] ... 

, Vandals Vandals

The Vandals were an East Germanic tribe [i] that entered the late Roman Empire [i] during the 5th century [i] ... 

, Arabs, and lately Europeans Europe

Europe is one of the seven traditional continent [i]s of the Earth [i]. ... 

. The cultures of the Maghreb and the Sahara therefore combine indigenous Berber, Arab and elements from neighboring parts of Africa and beyond. In the Sahara, the distinction between sedentary oasis Oasis

In geography [i], an oasis is an isolated area of vegetation in a desert [i], typically surrounding a spring [i] ... 

 inhabitants and nomadic Bedouin Bedouin

Bedouin, derived from the Arabic [i] ' , a generic name for a desert-dweller, is ... 

 and Tuareg Tuareg

The Tuareg Arabic [i]:????? are a Berber [i] ethnic group [i] or nation [i]. ... 

 is particularly marked.

The diverse peoples of the Sahara are usually categorized along ethno-linguistic lines. In the Maghreb, where Arab and Berber identities are often integrated, these lines can be blurred. Some Berber Berber languages

The Berber languages are a group of closely related language [i]s mainly spoken in Morocco [i] and Algeria [i] ... 

-speaking North Africans may identify as "Arab" depending on the social and political circumstances, although substantial numbers of Berbers Berber people

The Berbers are an ethnic group [i] indigenous to Northwest Africa [i], speaking the Berber languages [i] ... 

  have retained a distinct cultural identity which in the 20th century 20th century

The 20th century started on 1 January [i] 1901 [i] and ended on 31 December [i] 2000 [i], according to t... 

 has been expressed as a clear ethnic identification with Berber history and language. Arabic-speaking Northwest Africans, regardless of ethnic background, often identify with Arab history and culture and may share a common vision with other Arabs. This, however, may or may not exclude pride in and identification with Berber and/or other parts of their heritage. Berber political and cultural activists for their part, often referred to as Berberists, may view all Northwest Africans as principally Berber, whether they are primarily Berber- or Arabic-speaking .

The Nile Valley through northern Sudan Sudan

Sudan is the largest country [i] by area in Africa [i], situated in Northern Africa [i]. ... 

 traces its origins to the ancient civilizations of Egypt Ancient Egypt

Ancient Egypt was a long-lived ancient civilization [i] in north-eastern Africa [i]. ... 

 and Kush Kush

Kush or Cush was a civilization centered in the North Africa [i]n region of Nubia [i], located in ... 

. The Egyptians over the centuries have shifted their language from Egyptian Egyptian language

Written records of the ancient Egypt [i]ian language have been dated from about 3200 BC [i]. ... 

 to modern Egyptian Arabic , while retaining a sense of national identity that has historically set them apart from other people in the region. Most Egyptians are Sunni Muslim and a significant minority Copt

*Lycopolitan [i]
  • Fayyumic [i] ... 

     adheres to Coptic Christianity Coptic Christianity

    Coptic Orthodox Christianity is the indigenous Christianity [i] of Egypt [i] that, according to traditio... 

     which has strong historical ties to the Ethiopian Orthodox Church Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church

    The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church is an Oriental Orthodox [i] church in Ethiopia [i]... 

    . In Nubia Nubia

    Today Nubia is the region in the south of Egypt [i], along the Nile [i] and in northern Sudan [i], but i ... 

    , straddling Egypt and Sudan, a significant population retains the ancient Nubian language but has adopted Islam Islam

    Islam is a monotheistic [i] religion [i] based upon the Qur'an [i], which adherents believe w ... 

    . The northern part of the Sudan Sudan

    Sudan is the largest country [i] by area in Africa [i], situated in Northern Africa [i]. ... 

     is home to the, largely, Arab Muslim population, but further down the Nile Valley, the culturally distinct world of the largely non-Muslim Nilotic and Nuba Nuba

    Nuba is a collective term used for the peoples who inhabit the Nuba Mountains [i], in Kordofan [i] provi ... 

     peoples begins. Sudan is the largest and most diverse of all North African countries.


North Africa formerly had a large Jewish Judaism

Judaism is the religion [i] of the Jew [i]ish people. ... 

 population, many of whom emigrated to France or Israel when the North African nations gained independence. A smaller number went to Canada. Prior to the modern establishment of Israel Israel

Israel , officially the State of Israel, is a country in Western Asia [i] on the so ... 

, there were about 600,000-700,000 Jews in Northern Africa, including both Sfardim  as well as indigenous Mizrahi Jews

Mizrahi Jews, or Mizrahim sometimes also called Edot HaMizrah are Jew [i]s descended from th ... 

. Today, less than fifteen thousand remain in the region, almost all in Morocco and Tunisia, and are mostly part of a French-speaking urban elite.

History

After the Middle Ages Middle Ages

The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history [i] ... 

 the area was loosely under the control of the Ottoman Empire Ottoman Empire

The Ottoman Empire , is also sometimes known in the West [i] as the Turkish Empire. ... 

, except Morocco. After the 19th century 19th century

The 19th century lasted from 1801 [i] through 1900 [i] in the Gregorian calendar [i].
... 

, it was colonized by France French colonial empires

France [i] had colonial [i] possessions, in various forms, since the beginning of the 17th century [i] ... 

, the United Kingdom British Empire

The British Empire was the most extensive empire [i] in world history and for a ... 

, Spain Spanish Empire

The Spanish Empire was the first truly global empire [i].... 

 and Italy Italy

Italy, officially the Italian Republic , is a Southern European [i] country. ... 

. In World War 2 World War II

World War II, or the Second World War, was a worldwide [i] conflict [i] fought betwe ... 

 from 1940 to 1943 the area was the setting for the North African Campaign North African campaign

During World War II [i], the North African Campaign, also known as the Desert War, took place in t ... 

. During the 1950s 1950s

The 1950s was the decade spanning the years 1950 to 1959.... 

, 1960s 1960s

The 1960s decade [i] refers to the years from 1960 [i] to 1969 [i], inclusive. ... 

 and into the 1970s 1970s

The 1970s decade [i] refers to the years from 1970 [i] to 1979 [i], inclusive. ... 

, all of the North African states gained independence.

Land and sea

Sheltered valleys in the Atlas mountains, the Nile valley and delta, and the Mediterranean coast are the main sources of good farming land. A wide variety of valuable crops including cereals, rice and cotton, and woods such as cedar and cork, are grown. Typical mediterranean crops such as olives, figs, dates and citrus fruits also thrive in these areas. The Nile valley is particularly fertile, and most of Egypt's population lives close to the river. Elsewhere, irrigation is essential to improve crop yields on the desert margins.

Many north African nomads, such as the Bedouin Bedouin

Bedouin, derived from the Arabic [i] ' , a generic name for a desert-dweller, is ... 

, maintain a traditional pastoral lifestyle on the desert fringes, moving their herds of sheep, goats and camels from place to place - crossing country borders in order to find sufficient grazing land.

Transport and industry

The economies of Algeria and Libya were transformed by the discovery of oil and natural gas reserves in the deserts. Morocco's major exports are phosphate Phosphate

In inorganic chemistry [i], a phosphate is a salt [i] of phosphoric acid [i]. ... 

s and agricultural produce, and as in Egypt and Tunisia, the tourist industry is essential to the economy. Egypt has the most varied industrial base, importing technology to develop electronics and engineering industries, and maintaining the reputation of its high-quality cotton textiles.

Oil rigs are scattered throughout the deserts of Libya and Algeria. Libyan oil is especially prized because of its low sulphur Sulfur

Sulfur or sulphur is the chemical element [i] in the periodic table [i] that has the symbol S' ... 

 content, which it means it produces much less pollution than other fuel oils.

See also