North Africa

North Africa, also known as Northern Africa, is the northern part of the African continent. It stretches from the Atlantic shores of the Western Sahara in the west to Egypt and Sudan's Red Sea coast in the east.

The most common way people define North Africa includes countries such as Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, and Western Sahara. Some groups, like the United Nations, also include Sudan, while others, like the African Union, may leave Sudan out but add Mauritania. This area has been home to many groups of people for thousands of years, including the Berbers in the west and the Ancient Egyptians and Nubians in the east.

Starting many centuries ago, people from the Arabian Peninsula moved into North Africa, bringing new ways of life and beliefs. This changed the region a lot and shaped its culture. Today, North Africa’s culture is mostly connected to Arab and Islamic traditions. Because of this history, North Africa shares many similarities with the Middle East, West Asia, East Africa, and areas around the Sahara desert.

Countries and territories

History

Main article: History of North Africa

Further information: African empires § North Africa, and List of kingdoms in pre-colonial Africa § North Africa

Prehistory

Main article: Prehistoric North Africa

Further information: History of North Africa § Prehistory

North Africa has a long history that helps us learn about early humans. Some think North Africa is where humans first left the continent. Scientists have found old bones and tools in places like Setif and Saïda.

Recent discoveries in Morocco show that people lived in Africa much earlier than we thought. Cave paintings in Tassili n'Ajjer show scenes from long ago. During this time, people began to farm and raise animals.

People lived in Nubia long ago, but we have less evidence from the Nile Valley in Egypt. Some think Egyptian civilization started from small groups along the Nile.

When Egypt changed, western North Africa had smaller groups. The Phoenicians and Greeks started towns along the coast in the 7th century BCE.

Antiquity and ancient Rome

Main article: History of North Africa § Classical period

Important places in western North Africa were Carthage, Numidia, and Mauretania. The Phoenicians started towns, including Carthage. A story says a Phoenician princess named Dido used a smart trick to get land for her city.

Carthage became a big trading city but often fought with Rome. Rome later took over Carthage's lands. This led to wars with Numidia. Mauretania stayed free until Rome took it in 42 AD.

North Africa was part of the Roman Empire and home to famous people like Augustine of Hippo. Later, new groups like the Vandals took over, which helped the Western Roman Empire get weaker.

Arab conquest to modern times

Main article: History of North Africa § Arrival of Islam

Further information: Muslim conquest of the Maghreb, European enclaves in North Africa before 1830, Colonisation of Africa, Decolonisation of Africa, Postcolonial Africa § North Africa, and Neocolonialism

See also: Status of forces agreement

By 640, North Africa became part of the early Muslim conquests. By 700, most of it was under Muslim rule. Local Berbers started their own governments in places like Fez.

In the 11th century, a movement called the Almoravid dynasty spread into Africa. Later, groups like the Banu Sulaym and Banu Hilal caused big changes.

After the Middle Ages, the Ottoman Empire had influence over the area. Privateers called Barbary pirates worked from coastal cities. European powers like Spain, France, the United Kingdom, and Italy took control of North Africa in the 19th century.

During World War II, North Africa was an important place for battles. In the 1950s and 1960s, North African countries became independent. Today, there is a disagreement over Western Sahara between Morocco and groups supported by Algeria.

The Arab Spring started in Tunisia and Egypt, leading to changes in their governments. There were also protests in Algeria and Morocco.

Geography

North Africa has three main parts: the Sahara desert in the south, the Atlas Mountains in the west, and the Nile River and delta in the east. The Atlas Mountains stretch across Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia. These mountains are part of a larger system that also runs through Southern Europe. They slope down to the south and east, turning into a dry, grassy area before meeting the Sahara desert, which covers most of the region. The highest peaks are in the High Atlas range in Morocco, which sometimes has snow.

South of the Atlas Mountains is the huge Sahara desert, the largest sand desert in the world. In some places, the desert has dry riverbeds called wadis, which only fill with water after rain. The Sahara has many interesting shapes, including large seas of sand called ergs that sometimes form big dunes, flat rocky areas called hammada, and desert pavement known as reg. The Sahara covers southern Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, and most of Libya. Only two parts of Libya are not desert: Tripolitania in the northwest and Cyrenaica in the northeast. Most of Egypt is also desert, except for the Nile River and the land around it. The Nile Valley is a narrow strip of very fertile land that runs through the country.

Fertile farming land can be found in valleys in the Atlas Mountains, the Nile Valley and Delta, and along the coast where the Mediterranean Sea meets the land. Many important crops are grown there, such as grains, rice, cotton, and woods like cedar and cork. Other crops from the Mediterranean area, like olives, figs, dates, and citrus fruits, also grow well in these places. The Nile Valley is especially fertile, and most people in Egypt live close to the river. In other areas, extra water from irrigation is needed to help crops grow near the desert edges.

Economy

See also: Economy of Algeria, Economy of Egypt, Economy of Libya, Economy of Morocco, Economy of Tunisia, Economy of Sudan, and Economy of Western Sahara

Science and technology

Further information in the sections of History of science and technology in Africa:

• Education
• Astronomy
• Mathematics
• Metallurgy
• Medicine
• Agriculture
• Textiles
• Maritime technology
• Architecture
• Communication systems
• Warfare
• Commerce
• By country

Demographics

Main articles: Maghrebis, Maghrebi Arabs, Berbers, Egyptians, Copts, Nubians, and Haratins

Further information: Demographics of Africa, Demographics of the Middle East and North Africa, List of ethnic groups of Africa § North Africa, List of African countries by population, and Writing systems of Africa § Ancient orthographies

The people of North Africa come from many different backgrounds. The main groups include Arabs, Berbers, Egyptians, Copts, Nubians, and Haratins. Most people speak Arabic, but some also speak Berber. Algeria and Morocco recognize Berber as an official language alongside Arabic. French is used in government work in Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia.

Most people in North Africa follow the Muslim faith. There are also smaller groups of Jewish people in Morocco and Tunisia, and Christian Copts mainly in Egypt, with smaller communities in Algeria, Morocco, Libya, and Tunisia.

People from the Canary Islands in Spain and Malta have mixed ancestry from Spain, North Africa, and other regions, but these places are considered part of Europe, not North Africa. Haratins, who are thought to be descendants of ancient Sahara inhabitants, live mainly in Mauritania and also in Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. Nubians live along the Upper Nile Valley, especially in Egypt. The Beja people live in Sudan and Egypt and have mixed with Arab groups over time.

Culture

Main article: Culture of North Africa

Further information: African art § North Africa, Architecture of Africa § North Africa, Folk costume § Northern Africa, African cuisine § North Africa, List of African cuisines § Central African cuisine, Music of Africa § North Africa and the Horn of Africa, Cinema of Africa § North Africa, History of theatre § North African theatre, and Traditional African religions § North Africa

Most people in North Africa speak Arabic and believe in Islam. The Arabic and Berber languages come from the same big family called Afroasiatic. The Berber languages are older than those spoken in the coast cities.

Over time, Berbers have met many different cultures, including Egyptians, Greeks, Punic people, Romans, Vandals, Arabs, Europeans, and other Africans. This mixing created a culture that blends Arab, Berber, and African traditions. In the Sahara desert, life is different for people in oases and those who move with their animals, like the Bedouin Arabs and Tuaregs.

Egyptians have changed their language from ancient Egyptian to modern Egyptian Arabic, but they still feel special. Most Egyptians follow Sunni Muslim beliefs, but there are also many Coptic Christians. The Copts are the largest Christian group in the Middle East and North Africa.