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The Roman Empire in West Africa
At its fullest extent, the Roman Empire stretched from around modern-day Aswan, Egypt at its southernmost point to Great Britain in the north but the influence of the Roman Empire went far beyond even the borders of its provinces as a result...

Article
Pirates of the Mediterranean
The pirates of the ancient Mediterranean were not, for the most part, the outsiders who knew no country's allegiance and were the enemies of civilization as they are frequently depicted in novels and other media. They were often employed...

Article
The Masaesyli and Massylii of Numidia
The North African Berber kingdom of Numidia (202-40 BCE) was originally inhabited by a tribe (or federation of tribes) known as the Masaesyli, to the west, and a coalition of smaller tribes, known as the Massylii, to the east. The meaning...

Article
Legions of Spain, Roman Africa & Egypt
The legions of Spain, Roman Africa, and Egypt did not see the intensity of action that prevailed elsewhere in Europe. However, the presence of these four legions - VII Gemina, IX Hispana, XXII Deiotariana, and II Traiana Fortis - was still...

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Umayyad Conquest, 7th & 8th Centuries CE
Map showing the Umayyad Arab (Islamic) expansion throughout the 7th and 8th centuries CE. In dark green is depicted the extent of Islam up until the death of Mohammed (622-632 CE); in the intermediate green is shown the conquests of Rashidun...

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Kairouan Mosque Courtyard
Part of the courtyard of the Great Mosque of Kairouan, modern-day Tunisia, with the main prayer hall. The mosque was established by the Arab general Uqba ibn Nafi in 670 CE along with the town of Kairouan itself, which was used as a base...

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The History of the West African Salt Trade
Did you know that salt was literally worth its weight in gold in ancient West Africa? This video is all about the lucrative trade of salt in West African history. Salt from the Sahara desert was one of the major trade goods of ancient...

Video
Kairouan (UNESCO/NHK)
Founded in 670, Kairouan in present-day Tunisia flourished under the Aghlabid dynasty in the 9th century AD. Despite the transfer of the political capital to Tunis in the 12th century AD, Kairouan remained the Maghreb's principal holy city...

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Bust of Ptolemy of Mauretania, Louvre
A marble bust of King Ptolemy of Mauretania (c. 10 BCE - c. 40 CE). Ptolemy was the son of Juba II and Cleopatra Selene II, making him a descendant of both the Berber rulers of Numidia and the Ptolemaic dynasty of Egypt. Through his mother...