379
North Africa 379-
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Africa
Africa, history of
Desert wildlife
IslamThe counTrIes of norTh AfrIcA have
suffered many invasions, from the romans to the
french and British. But the conquest by the
armies of Islam in the 7th century was to have
a major impact on the region, giving it a shared
religion, language, and sense of identity.
Much of north Africa is dominated by the largest
desert on earth, the sahara. It is sparsely
populated by dwindling numbers of nomads.
Most people live along the fertile coastal strip
on the banks of the nile. cities increasingly
attract migrants from the country—cairo is the
fastest-growing city in the Islamic world with a
population of over 18 million. In Algeria and
Libya, the desert has revealed hidden riches—
vast reserves of oil are fueling modernization
programs. Many tourists visit Morocco,
Tunisia, and egypt, attracted by
ancient ruins, medieval cities,
and sunny beaches.BerBers
The Berbers are the original
people of northwest Africa.
They were converted to Islam
in the 8th century. Arab
invaders drove them into the
Atlas Mountains, where many
still live in remote villages. In
the sahara, Berbers live a
nomadic life, herding camels,
sheep, and goats.The north African coast
occupies the southern shores of the
Mediterranean, where the climate is
mild and the land fertile. The Atlas
Mountains and the rolling hills of
Algeria and Tunisia lie between the
coast and the sand seas and barren
rocks of the sahara.ALgIers
The capital of Algeria forms a vast
amphitheater of dazzling white buildings
on the Mediterranean coast. The old
Muslim quarter of the city sprawls across
the hills, a maze of winding streets and
high-walled houses. The french colonial
quarter, with its public squares and tree-lined
avenues, is found near the harbor. The french
captured the city, an unruly center of Mediterranean
piracy, in 1830. They left in 1962.LepTIs MAgnA
The roman ruins
of Leptis Magna, Libya (right)
are the finest in Africa. The city
dates to the 5th century bce.
It became part of the roman
empire and was abandoned after
the Arab conquest in 643 ce.People who live in the desert regions of
Africa, such as these Berber men (left),
wear loose clothes to keep cool, and
veils to protect themselves from the
windblown sands of the desert.nILe AgrIcuLTure
The river nile floods every summer, carrying
rich mud from the highlands of ethiopia and
sudan to the arid deserts of egypt. It was this
annual miracle that provided the foundations
of Ancient egyptian civilization. Today, nearly
95 percent of the egyptian population lives
along the green and fertile land on the banks
of the nile. egypt is a leading producer of
dates, melons, and cotton. Most egyptian
farmers use centuries-old methods; donkeys
and mules are still used to pull heavy loads
and carry water.kAIrouAn
When Islamic Arabs conquered
north Africa in the 7th century,
they founded many cities that are
still important today. The walled
city of kairouan, in Tunisia, is a
sacred shrine for Muslims in Africa.
The great Mosque was built in the
9th century. Its imposing marble
courtyard, where the people pray,
is surrounded by columns.US_379_North_Africa_1.indd 379 22/01/16 4:45 pm