A glimpse in Algeria’s history

First: Some facts about Algeria Algeria is a country located in North Africa.North Africa In terms of land area it is the eleventh- largest country in the world. The national language of this country is Arabic. The current population of Algeria is about 35 million people.

ARE YOU READY TO FIND OUT HOW ALGERIA BECAME THE STRIVING COUNTRY IT NOW IS?

Early beginnings Algeria had been inhabited since prehistoric times by indigenous peoples of northern Africa, who coalesced eventually into a distinct native population, the Berbers.After 1000 BC, the Carthaginians began establishing settlements along the coast. The Berbers seized the opportunity offered by the Punic Wars to become independent of Carthage, and Berber kingdoms began to emerge, most notably Numidia..

In 200 BC, however, they were once again taken over, this time by the Roman Republic. When the Western Roman Empire collapsed, Berbers became independent again in many areas, while the Vandals took control over other parts, where they remained until expelled by the generals of the Byzantine Emperor, Justinian I. The Byzantine Empire then retained a precarious grip on the east of the country until the coming of the Arabs in the eighth century.

1700’s – 1800’s 1774 Jul 11, Jews of Algiers escaped an attack of the Spanish Army Nov 28, US paid $800,000 and a frigate as tribute to Algiers and Tunis.

Mar 2, To put an end to robberies by the Barbary pirates, the United States declared war on Algiers Jun 30, US naval hero Stephen Decatur signed a treaty ending attacks by Algerian pirates. Commodores Stephen Decatur and William Bainbridge had conducted successful operations against the Barbary States of Algiers, Tunis and Tripoli 1815 Aug 5, A peace treaty with Tripoli, which followed treaties with Algeria (Jun 30) and Tunis (Aug 28), brought an end to the Barbary Wars. Commodores Stephen Decatur and William Bainbridge had conducted successful operations against the Barbary States of Algiers, Tunis and Tripoli.

1816 Aug 27, Admiral Sir Edward Pellew, a noble from Devon, England, bombed Algiers, a refuge for Barbary pirates. He flew the green, white and black flag of St. Petroc. In 1836 the battle was pictured in a painting by George Chambers, Senior. Pellew was subsequently named Lord Exmouth Jul 5, The French occupied the North African city of Algiers The original Zouaves, Zouaoua tribesmen from Algeria, formed their brightly dressed fighting force and later gained renown for their bravery during the Crimean and Franco-Austrian wars. American units imitated both the dress and battle courage of these fierce fighters Jul 6, French General Thomas Bugeaud defeated Abd al-Kader's forces beside the Sikkak River in Algeria.

1845 Sep 8, A French column surrendered at Sidi Brahim in the Algerian War In France Emperor Napoleon III decided to quell an impending revolt in Algeria by sending a magician, who would demonstrate the power of the Europeans to the natives. He sent Jean-Eugene Robert Houdini ( ). The 1998 novel "The Magician’s Wife" by Brian Moore is based on the historic events. The magician is named Henri Lambert.

1909 Nov 15, M. Metrot took off in a Voisin bi-plane from Algiers, making the first manned flight in Africa Algerian exiles in Egypt create the Front de Liberation Nationale (FLN) and start the civil war 1956 Algerian freedom fighter Ben Bella is arrested by French police 1959 DeGaulle grants Algeria the right to vote on independence

1962 After the deaths of about 100,000 French and about 1,000,000 Algerians, Algeria is declared independent 1962 Ben Bella, released from French prison, returns to Algeria and becomes its first president 1965 Houari Boumedienne seizes power in Algeria and keeps Ben Bella under house arrests for 15 years 1976 Algeria is declared a socialist state

1978 Boumedienne dies and is replaced by Benjedid Chadly as president of Algeria 1980 Berbers demonstrate against Arab domination in Algeria ("Spring of Kabyle") 1988 Anti-government riots in Algiers 1990 The Front Islamique du Salut (FIS) defeats the FLN by a large margin of votes in several local elections in Algeria 1992 The Algerian army cancels national elections won by the FIS and seizes power, while Islamic radicals of the Arme` Islamique du Salut (AIS), the military wing of the FIS, begin a guerrilla campaign

1993 A group of of Algerian "Afghans" (Islamic fighters who received their military training in Afghanistan) form the Group Islamique Arme` (GIA) with the mission to exterminate all infidels (basically Jews and Christians) 1994 Liamine Zeroual is appointed Algerian president by the army 1996 All religious parties are outlawed from future Algerian elections 1997 The GIA becomes the main rebel group fighting the Algerian government 1999 Abdelaziz Bouteflika is elected president of Algeria after all other candidates withdraw or are disuqalified 1999 The GIA and the AIS approve peace talks with the Algerian government

present Attacks on civilians and security forces continue, and are thought to be the work of small groups still opposed to the civil concord. Violence is estimated to have claimed over 100,000 lives in Algeria since April/May - Scores of demonstrators are killed in violent clashes between security forces and Berber protestors in the mainly Berber region of Kabylie following the death of a teenager in police custody. October - Government agrees to give the Berber language official status, as part of a package of concessions. November - Several hundred people are killed as floods hit Algiers March - President Bouteflika says the Berber language, Tamazight, is to be recognised as a national language June - Prime Minister Ali Benflis's National Liberation Front (FLN) wins general elections marred by violence and a low turnout. They are boycotted as a sham by four parties - two of which represent Berbers May - More than 2,000 people are killed and thousands are injured by a powerful earthquake in the north. The worst-hit areas are east of Algiers.

2003 June - Leader of the outlawed Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) Abassi Madani and his deputy Ali Belhadj are freed after serving 12-year sentences April - President Bouteflika is re-elected to a second term in a landslide poll victory March - Government-commissioned report says security forces were responsible for the disappearances of more than 6,000 citizens during the 1990s civil conflict. November - Opposition parties keep their majority in local elections in the mainly-Berber Kabylie region, held as part of a reconciliation process.

2006 March - Six-month amnesty begins, under which fugitive militants who surrender will be pardoned, except for the most serious of crimes. The authorities free a first batch of jailed Islamic militants. May - Algeria is to pay back all of its $8bn debt to the Paris Club group of rich creditor nations, in a move seen as reflecting its economic recovery January - Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat renames itself the al-Qaeda Organization in the Islamic Maghreb. February - Seven bombs go off almost simultaneously east of Algiers, killing six. September - At least 50 people are killed in a series of bombings. Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb claims responsibility for the attacks.

2008 August - About 60 people are killed in bombings in towns east of Algiers. Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb claims responsibility April - President Bouteflika wins third term at the polls. July - Nigeria, Niger and Algeria sign an agreement to build a $13bn pipeline to take Nigerian gas across the Sahara to the Mediterranean. November - Disturbances mar two international association football matches between Egypt and Algeria, leading to diplomatic tensions between the two countries.

Now that we know about Algeria’s history, how about we learn a little bit about the people who contributed to it?

1913 Nov 7, Albert Camus (d.1960), French philosopher, novelist, and dramatist was born in Mondovi, Algeria. He is best known for his book "The Stranger." 1919 Ahmed Ben Bella, Algerian statesman, was born. He served as premier from Yves St. Laurent, fashion designer, was born in Oran, Algeria Jul 3, Liamine Zeroual was born.