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Tripoli:
Tripoli the land of three cities, derives its name from the three ancient cities vir. Sabratlia situated in the west. Oea (Known now as Tripoli). is situated in the remote western side of Libya. and Leptis Magna is located in the cast of Tripoli.
These three cities were founded by Phoenician Carthage as trading posts, which later became "Emporia" to guarantee the security of fertile coast. At that time the language. culture, and administration of the Roman legions drew a symbolic plough over Carthage after it had been razed to the ground. The Phoenician influence had not disappeared when Tripoli, during the period Roman tutelage over the three cities, developed friendly relations with Numidian Kingdom ruled by a Libyan Chieftain.While all events were happen, in 264 B.C. the Carthaginians occupied Messina and so plunged into a struggle with Rome that was to end more than a century later in the destruction of Carthage and the establishment of Roman rule in North Africa.
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Thus, the first Punic War(264-241), through it caused the loss of Carthage Sicily. left Carthage's main foe intact elsewhere. Twenty-three years later she had recovered sufficiently to embark on the Second Punic War (218-202) which Hannibal's invasion of Italy all but decided. But the Romans fought the assailants to a stand still; and in 204 B. Scipio Africanus landed in Africa. where lie joined forces with a native Chieftain named Massinissa , and with his aid achieved the final victory over the Carthaginians and the it leader Hannibal who was then treacherously assassinated by some of his followers.
In their conquest, the Rom ails decided to prevent a second Carthaginian recovery for their terms included the cession of Spain, the payment of a heavy indemnity, and the reduction of the Carthaginian fleet to ten ships, at the same time, the Romans planned to paralvze Carthage in North Africa by encouraging Massinissa s territorial aspirations at her expense. |
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Carthage was permitted to maintain a property of the Phoenician dependencies, including the Tripolitanian Emporia but she was ordered to hand over the Massinissa, whom the Roman had recognised as King of an independent Numidia (roughly corresponding to modern Algeria), all the cities and territory held by him or his forefathers'. The phrase was purposely vague in order to confuse the state of affairs of King Massinissa and Carthage; meanwhile Carthage's hands were bound by a clause forbidding her to make war without Rome's approval. A complete submission to the Romans rule. |
After fifty year of hard task, Massinissa was able to unite the ancient Libyan Kingdome which stretched from Morocco to Cyrenaica, having Carthage as Capital, on the whole account of Rome effort for administrative purposes, all three Tripolitanian cities were evacated to the rank of Roman colonies. Leptis was placed under Trajan, Oea and Sabratha under the regin of Antoninius Pius.
In conclusion, this short thesis of history does not permit us to relate all the traces of the events of Tripolitania from the earliest times down to the present day. The foregoing details covers briefly the elements of the past history. |
In general, the outcome of the Roman Empire was weakened by the Civil Wars in Italy. Rome it ad no respite from the attacks of the Germans, and Byzantiurm became the capital of the Empire. Therefor it was impossible to prevent the decline of the Roman authority in North Africa. Fierce tribes advanced from the Fezzan. Sabratha and Oea (Tripoli) called in the Vandals front Spain to help her against the newcomers who eventually ruled the country. This meant. Automatically, the end of the Roman domination of North Africa. Efforts were however, made from Byzantium to save the collapse of North Africa for the eastern Roman Empire. Under Justinian, Belisarius defeated the Vandals near Tunisia in 533 A.D. And in order to guard against the repeated attacks of the ancient Fezzanese tribes, both Sabratha and Leptis built new defences. They called them the Byzantine Wails. But they were of no avail since they tailed to resist the Arab Muslim attacks afterwards in 642-643.
After the death of the Prophet Mohamed (p.b.u.h), the Arab Muslim army captured Tripoli in its advance to North Africa and then to Spain. Tripoli became an Arab Muslim stronghold; but in its history, the city was destined to face more conquerors-i.e. in 1145 the Normans took the city,in 1510 came the Spaniards and the it the knights of St. John of Malta who seized it in 1530, under the protection of Charles V of France. But finally, due to their harsh rule, the Arab Libyan inhabitants forced them to quit the country in 1551, inspite of their military strength that they had had from outside. i.e. from Europe.
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Tripoli, again, witnessed an unpleasant event which Occurred between (1801 and 1804) for which, I Presume is worthy of record because it has become a part of its struggle for freedom and independence.
After the War of independence, the United States of America, having at the time of 1790 no warships, had been unable, as they say to protect her merchant fleet in the Mediterranean Sea. Because of this privation, America had to pay an anual ''ransom " to tour African Arab Muslim states of which Tripoli was the easternmost under the karamanly's rule in 1801, so as to ensure the protection of her ships sailing through the Mediterranean Sea. But the U.S.A. refused to execute the payment of such a right tax levied by the sovereign states concerned on the passage of all foreign ships, the cause of which war broke out between Tripoli under the title of Karamanly;s and the U.S.A. (Under Jefferson Administration). It lasted four years.
By this time the U.S.A. had built six frigates. One of these Warships, the "Philadelphia" foundered on the rocks in Tripoli Port The Libyan seized her while she was tendered immovable and turned her guns on the other American warships. It thus became necessary for the Americans to try to destroy the guns of the U.S. ship "Philadelphia". A captured Libyan Vessel, renamed the "intrepid" set out in February 1804 with 80 volunteers wit the order to sink the Philadelphia. |
In September of the same year, the vessel "Intrepid" sailing into port loaded with gun-powder tried to explode it amidst the Tripolitanian fleet. But the American mission failed because the ship was quickly spotted by the Libyans and gunshots from their Vessels made the "Intrepid" explode before it could realize its task.
The crew was killed. Five of the American sailers have been buried in a little cemetery near the port of Tripoli. The karamanlys' rule however ceased alter more than one century (1711-1835); which then followed by the second Ottoman era (1835-1911). The Turkish domination also ended after the Italian Libyan War of 1911-12. |
Benghazi:
Benghazi a Libyan eastern city is the latest of a whole series of cities from which Cvrenaicans, at different periods, have been governed by diverse rulers. The First Cyrenaican capital was Cyrene itself, situated in the fertile and Well-Watered Jabbal el-Akhdar (Green Mountain). But in A.D. 297 Roman Emperor Diocletian transferred the capital to Ptolemais (Tolemeita). Later still, in the sixth century A. D., Ptolemais because state of ruin and Apollonia (Susa) was made capital of "Upper Libya" or Pentapolis. and Derna of" Lower Libya" extending eastward to the Egyption Frontier. Benghazi was, however, known by several names in the course of its long history, namely: Hesperides in Greek times, (Euhesperides). It signifies "The happy city of the west'' and then by the name of Berenice in Ptolemean and Roman times, and Benghazi in the Moslem era. The city was built in 446 B. C. by one of the brothers of the King at Cyrene. Later on, the city joined the confederation of Pentapolis Greek cities in Libya; known by the name of Pentapolis which included Cyrene. Apollonia. Barca, Tauchira (Toucra) and Hesperides, re-named Bernice, the wife of Ptolemy III in 347 B.C.
Under the Roman and Byzantine rulers, the city flourish greatly, but later on began to decay. When the .Arab Muslim armies marched in the year 642-643, it was a small insignificant town. But . it crew in importance . in the Arab Muslim era, both military and commercially. |
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Also Benghazi derives its Arab name from a pious Moslem, "Sidi Ghazi" , who devouted his time in religious matters. He died in this city around the year 1450A.D. The Turkish occupation of Cairo in 1517 and Tripoli in 1551 brought Cvrenaica within the orbit of Ottoman Control. Then the Karamanli's in the year 1711 followed Turkish precedent in considering Cyrenaica as an essential part of their domains.
After the karamanli's reign of more than one century (1711-1835), the Ottomans re-occupied the country in 1835 until 1911 when Italy decided to invade the country in order to form it a colony. The Libyan resistance to the Italian rule continued until 16 September 1931, when the patriot Omar Al-Mucktar was captured and hanged at Souluk. A village on the west of Benghazi
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Tobruk:
Forever linked with the name of the great German commander, Marshall Rommel, who laid siege to and captured the city during World War II. Here you may visit his underground headquarters, also used by Montgomery during British control of the city. |
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There are cannons and tanks on display while, close by, are the remains of the WW2 American plane Lady Be Good which crash landed in the desert - the crew perished in the Sahara after walking immense distances and their bodies were not discovered until the early 1950s.
Here you may also visit the World War II cemeteries including the Allied Cemetery, the French Cemetery, Knightsbridge Cemetery and the German Cemetery. Near to the town, still rooted, is the famous fig tree which was used as a shelling locator during the war. World War II cannon. |
Al Bayda:
The religious centre
Al Bayda might not be much intended on tourism, but it happens to be the best base for those exploring the great ruins of Cyrene, Apollonia, and Slonta. And the town is nice enough. It has a number of colonial-style buildings.
Eat and Sleep
Two good hotels. Many good restaurants. Value for money is quite good in Al Bayda.
Transportation
Buses and taxis connects Al Bayda effectively with the rest of Libya. For longer travels, one does first set out for Benghazi. As always taxis, are the best means of communication.
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Slontah:
Site of a mysterious pre-Islamic funerary temple with strange animal and human-like carvings.The beliefs of the cult that worshipped here are not known. |
Misuratah:
Situated in the Gulf of Sirte and is located 200 km to the west of Tripoli and is the third largest city . Misurata is a semi Island while Qasar Ahmed is extended in the Mediterranean sea. The city served as an important marine port since the middle ages. The city has a unique museum displaying various monumental discoveries when a group of Archaeologists discovered very old Potters, tons of bronze coins, and underground cemeteries. It is estimated that these findings dates back to the 5 th . And 6 th . Century BC. Misurata is also famous for its Carpets and Kleems and a visit to Laffa market has to be included in your itinerary. Also products from nearby Tawargha ; famous of its hand-crafted products made from palm leaves are also to be found in the market. The Geramantes fought against the Romans and other powers.
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Ghat:
A Tuareg desert town at the entrance to the Acacus, deep in the Libyan Sahara, Ghat once enjoyed prominence as a trading post for caravans crossing the desert, and was active a thousand years ago. The old town is now mainly deserted, the population having moved into a newer area of Ghat, and is dominated by a picturesque Italian fort. Ghat may be reached by either a tarmac road from Sebha or through the desert from Ghadames alongside the Algerian border. (See under Ghadames for pictures of this route). An annual festival takes place in Ghat during December, a colourful ritual of Tuareg song and dance. |
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