Libya, Tunisia, Algeria & Morocco

Libya & The Maghreb Maghreb = “Land farthest west” Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco were the westernmost outposts of an the Islamic empire that stretched across Asia, Middle and Africa into Europe.

Same & Different Majority Arabic Speaking Majority Muslim Live along Narrow Med Coast Inland areas are arid desert Similar history Libya has oil but almost no arable land Tunisia is small and has a high percentage of arable land, but not oil….

Physical Characteristics of North Africa Mediterranean climate on coast Extremely dry inland Desert landscape varies from sand dunes to gravel and rock From low basins to plateaus and mountains Wadis – sharp gullies that catch and hold water

Desert Barrier People on the coast found it easier to have contact with people across the water than with people across the desert! People of the interior continue to be isolated and maintain traditional ways of life

History 5000 B.C. – Berbers (the original inhabitants) became farmers and herders instead of nomads Settled in villages along the coast and in the mountains. Over time Carthaginians and Romans came to power.

Camels Imported from Asia during Roman rule. “Ships of the Desert” Can travel several DAYS without water Specialized feet for walking in sand 2 hump = Bactrian 1 hump = dromedary

Camels allowed trade across the desert in Caravans. Caravan: large group of merchants who have joined together to travel in safety. Salt was brought from the north to the south, ivory, gold, feathers and slaves were brought north. Caravans also brought hippos and elephants for contests in Rome.

The Arabs Mid 600’s Arab armies invaded North Africa. Brought new religion and language The area became a center of trade between Europe, Africa and Asia Also became a center of learning.

The Europeans 1800’s European powers sought to control North Africa – France invaded Algeria (added Tunisia in late 1800’s) 1912 – France gained control of Morocco and Italy conquered Libya. UN declared Libya independent in 1951, but the other three had to fight for their independence. –Morocco & Tunisia 1956, Algeria 1962

Patterns of Settlement Rural Desert Nomads Urban

Rural Farmers still live in small villages in mud houses. Water must be carried from the village well each day. Work starts at dawn, but North Africans rest in the middle of the day when it is the hottest, and then return to work until dusk. Very much like we saw in Egypt.

Desert Nomads Most distinctive group is the Tuareg –Speak the only Berber language that has a written form –Unique form of Islam –“Blue men of the desert” –“Free men” – they have resisted giving up their nomadic way of life, but droughts have forced some to settle in villages and work on farms.

City Life Trend of urbanization – more than ½ the populations of Algeria, Libya and Tunisia live in urban areas! Medina – older sections of North African Cities, usually centered around a mosque. Souks – market areas Same story, different verse……

Since Independence and oil, the modern sections of cities look much like cities in Europe or the US

Libya 100,000 sq miles larger than Alaska Mostly desert with narrow coastal plain Less than 2% arable land Dates, olives, citrus, oil

Libya & Oil After independence from Italy, Libya was one of the poorest nations in Africa - $$ came mostly from foreign aid and rent from British and American military bases Situation changed fast when Libya discovered oil…. Oil makes up 99% of Libya’s exports Money from oil was used for roads, schools, housing, hospitals, airports, electricity, water wells, modern farm machinery….

Qaddafi 1969 – Muammar Qaddafi led a military coup that overthrew the king and abolished the Monarchy. The king had been “pro-west” – Qaddafi was “anti-west” Established a unique form of socialism that combined strict adherence to Islamic tradition with some modern economic and political reforms.

1 of Qaddafi’s goals was more equal distribution of wealth in Libya. –No Libyan could have more than one house or more than 1,000 dinar (about $3400) in savings. –Gov’t seized the property of anyone who had more than allowed. Another goal was to “root out” western influences. –Closed bars and night clubs –Banned blue jeans for men and ANY kind of pants for women.

Qaddafi clashed with Western nations and with Libya’s neighbors. Used oil $$ to buy billions of dollars worth of Soviet military equipment, which it used in wars with Chad and Egypt in the 70’s and 80’s. US launched air strike against Libya in response to a terrorist bombing and imposed economic sanctions in 1992.

Sanctions were lifted in 1999 when Libya turned over the two suspects to the UN. People wonder why life has not improved since the sanctions were lifted – rising oiil prices SHOULD have brought increased wealth to Libya….

Algeria Six times larger than California mile coastal plain Independent from France in 1962 Grains, grapes, dates, olives, oil, minerals

French Flight After independence, almost all French colonists left – they were the educated portion of the population. This left Algeria with no professionals or government administrators, so massive training and education programs were started.

More Oil Oil and natural gas (discovered in the 1950’s) = 96 % of Algeria’s exports. Like Libya, $$ was used to improve country, but Algeria still faces severe economic problems. The oil industry provides $$, but employs very few workers. Many newly educated Algerians have left Algeria to find work elsewhere

Trying to STOP urbanization Gov’t is trying to encourage rural Algerians to keep farming in order to accomplish three things –Lower unemployment –Reduce expensive dependence on food imports (currently imports more than 1/3 its food) –Solve the severe overcrowding problems in the coastal cities

Problems 1988 – economic discontent led to riots Algerians demanded an end to the ‘one- party’ rule. (eventually elections were held) 1992 election – Islamist party almost won –Many Algerians were scared the party would impose a government like the Islamic government in Iran –Afraid they would never gain the democratic freedoms they hoped for.

To prevent the radical Islamists from gaining power the ARMY took over the government and postponed elections. Radical Islamists responded with assassinations and other terrorist attacks.

Most Algerians still live in poverty

Tunisia A little smaller than Washington State Fertile well watered land in the north, desert in the south Dates, olives, grapes, citrus, phosphates, oil, iron

Morocco Size of California Long coastline on the Med and Atlantic, St. of Gibraltar Arable land 18 % Grains, fruits, dates, grapes, minerals, oil

Tunisia and Morocco Do NOT have oil reserves, which many view as a blessing…. Forced them to work hard to develop PEOPLE Education is free from primary through university Developing manufacturing and chemical industries Mining minerals

The End