The History and Colonization of Libya and it'sIndependence

Authors Avatar

BSGE                                                                                Zakir Hussain

10-2                                                                                5/8/11

The Colonialism and Independence of Libya

        Approximately ninety percent of Libya is roofed with desert.  That desert is mostly the vast Sahara Desert; the worlds largest hot desert.  Although most of the region is very barren, Libya’s northern border is a stunning coastline.  Its healthy, luscious fields and beautiful beaches extend along the Mediterranean Sea for approximately a thousand miles.

Phoenician sailors, who are now located in the area now named Lebanon, built ports on Libya’s Mediterranean coast in Tripolitania beginning in 1300 B.C.  Their vessels were constructed from cedar trees, which they used to sail across the Mediterranean transforming them into some of the greatest traders of their time.  Phoenicians sailors had a different reason for establishing ports than then the usual economic gains.  The reason for them establishing ports was because they wanted places along their trade route from Phoenicia to Spain where their cedar vessels could dock.  Even though the Phoenicians continued doing this, they did little to take over the area. What the Phoenicians did do was establish the city of Carthage, which was in today’s Tunisia.  By themselves, Carthage grew into a prosperous seaport and became an autonomous power with no help.  Carthage built up a burly military force and soon Carthaginians started ruling areas like Tripolitania.  Unlike the Phoenicians, the Carthaginians established numerous colonies, which they ruled with force.  The Libyans disliked the Carthaginians due to the fact that the rulers stipulated that the Libyans have to give up to half of their crops each season and how the Carthaginians “sacrificed their own first-born children to their implacable gods” (Isichei 161).  The Libyans found that despicable and appalling.  Carthage was getting attacked by Rome and battling went on and off for more than a hundred years.  Finally, Rome defeated Carthage in 146 B.C.

Join now!

In 146 B.C. Romans gained control over the Carthaginian Empire.  The Roman Empire used Tripolitania’s coastal area as one of their main sources of grain and other provisions. The Greeks ruled Cyrenaica but it soon fell under Roman rule.  The Greek stronghold was in Cyrenaica.  Greek explorers and warriors constantly explored the region for centuries.  First, they tried to use the area as a route to overrun Egypt.  Later, Cyrenacia became an abundant Greek fishing area.  Seeing that no one had colonized the only port in North Africa the Greeks took better management of the land.  Now that the Romans ...

This is a preview of the whole essay