Ancient North African Empires

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Ancient North African Empires refers to the period before the spread of Islam in the region, which covers modern-day Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt and Libya. The area was home to a number of kingdoms and empires, including the Berber kingdoms, the Carthaginian Empire, and the Roman Empire. The Berbers, who are indigenous to North Africa, had a rich culture and traditions, while the Carthaginians and Romans left a lasting impact on the region through their trade networks, cities, and political systems. The region was also influenced by the spread of Christianity, and by the 7th century, several bishoprics were established. The arrival of Islam in the 7th century brought about significant changes to the region, including the spread of the Arabic language and the development of a new culture and political system.

Map showing main trans-Saharan caravan routes c.  1400. Also shown are the Ghana Empire (until the 13th century) and 13th – 15th century Mali Empire, with the western route running from Djenné via Timbuktu to Sijilmassa. Present day Niger in yellow.

The  north african empires

By Philip Pikart – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8433730

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In this episode Zeinab Badawi’s exploration of Africans’ rich history focuses on North Africa. She goes to Morocco to find out about the original inhabitants of the region in particular the Berbers or Amazigh as they prefer to be called. Zeinab visits Carthage in Tunisia and explains who the Carthaginians were and their place in Africa’s history. She also looks at the great Berber kings and how they managed to retain their influence when North Africa came under Roman rule. Zeinab visits some of the most extensive and least visited ancient sites in Algeria built under the Romans.