--- title: Map of North Africa and the Western Mediterranean c. 1065: Power Shifts in the Post-Caliphate Maghreb author: Simeon Netchev source: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/19431/map-of-north-africa-and-the-western-mediterranean/ format: machine-readable-alternate license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0) updated: 2026-01-03 --- # Map of North Africa and the Western Mediterranean c. 1065: Power Shifts in the Post-Caliphate Maghreb _Authored by [Simeon Netchev](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/simeonnetchev/)_ ## Image File [![Map of North Africa and the Western Mediterranean c. 1065: Power Shifts in the Post-Caliphate Maghreb](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/19431.png)](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/19431.png) ## Image Caption Around 1065, the geopolitical landscape of North [Africa](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/africa/) and the western [Mediterranean](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/mediterranean/) was marked by fragmentation, migration, and the rise of new regional powers. Older political structures were weakening, while emergent dynasties and mobile confederations reshaped the balance of power. This period illustrates how environmental pressures, religious alignments, and shifting imperial loyalties combined to produce rapid and often destabilizing change across the medieval Mediterranean world. In North Africa, the Hammadid dynasty (c. 1014–1152) consolidated control over much of present-day Algeria after breaking away from the Zirids, whose authority collapsed following the arrival of the Banū Hilāl and Banū Sulaym, Arab tribal confederations encouraged by the Fatimid [Caliphate](https://www.worldhistory.org/Islamic_Caliphates/) (909–1171) to punish the Zirids for abandoning Shiʿi allegiance. These migrations devastated agricultural regions and accelerated the decline of the Badicid emirate. At the same time, the Almoravids (c. 1040–1147), a reformist [Berber](https://www.worldhistory.org/Berbers/) movement emerging from the Sahara, were expanding northward, poised to intervene decisively in both North Africa and al-Andalus. Across the sea, Norman forces continued their [conquest](https://www.worldhistory.org/warfare/) of [Sicily](https://www.worldhistory.org/sicily/), while the [taifa](https://www.worldhistory.org/Taifa/) kingdoms of [Iberia](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/iberia/), politically divided after the collapse of the [Umayyad Caliphate](https://www.worldhistory.org/Umayyad_Dynasty/) (1031), struggled against internal rivalry and mounting external pressure. Together, these parallel developments signaled a major realignment that would reshape the medieval western Mediterranean in the decades to follow. *With sincere thanks and admiration to Boutkhil Tayeb for his inspiration, patience, and fantastic research.* #### Editorial Review This human-authored image has been reviewed by our editorial team before publication to ensure accuracy, reliability and adherence to academic standards in accordance with our [editorial policy](https://www.worldhistory.org/static/editorial-policy/). ## About the Author Simeon is a freelance visual designer and history educator, passionate about the human stories that shape the past. - [Linkedin Profile](https://www.linkedin.com/in/simeon-netchev/) ## Cite This Work ### APA Netchev, S. (2026, January 03). Map of North Africa and the Western Mediterranean c. 1065: Power Shifts in the Post-Caliphate Maghreb. *World History Encyclopedia*. ### Chicago Netchev, Simeon. "Map of North Africa and the Western Mediterranean c. 1065: Power Shifts in the Post-Caliphate Maghreb." *World History Encyclopedia*, January 03, 2026. . ### MLA Netchev, Simeon. "Map of North Africa and the Western Mediterranean c. 1065: Power Shifts in the Post-Caliphate Maghreb." *World History Encyclopedia*, 03 Jan 2026, . ## License & Copyright Submitted by [Simeon Netchev](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/simeonnetchev/ "User Page: Simeon Netchev"), published on 03 January 2026. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0deed.en). This licence only allows others to download this content and share it with others as long as the author is credited, but they can't change the content in any way or use it commercially. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.