Libya is a large North African nation with a long history of settlement and conquest. It was colonized by the Phoenicians, conquered by Alexander the Great and the Romans, and later controlled by the Arab world and the Ottomans. In 1911, Italy invaded Libya and later recognized Sheikh Sidi Idris as emir. Libya declared independence in 1951 and became relatively wealthy after the discovery of oil in 1959. Mu’ammar Abu Minyar al-Qadhafi led a coup in 1969, dissolved the monarchy, and declared a republic. Libya has pursued Arab unity, socialism, and leadership in Africa, but has been criticized for human rights violations and state terrorism. Since 2003, Libya has made overtures to reconciliation with the West. Libya offers breathtaking views of North Africa and ancient archaeological sites like Leptis Magna. Flights and cruise ships regularly arrive in Tripoli.
Libya is a large nation in North Africa. It covers 679,000 square miles (1,759,500 square km), making it somewhat larger than the state of Alaska. It borders Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Niger, Sudan and Tunisia, with coastlines along the Mediterranean Sea.
The region that is now Libya, along with much of North Africa, has been inhabited for almost 200,000 years, with the first settlements appearing around 8,000 years ago. The region was also the destination of many different conquering peoples from around the Mediterranean, starting around 900 BC.
The Phoenicians were the first major Mediterranean power to colonize the area, using it as an important trade hub. Alexander the Great then conquered Libya as his empire expanded as far as North Africa. The Romans eventually moved in, and the Vandals followed soon after, and the Byzantine Empire finally took control.
In the mid-7th century, the most influential of the invasions took place, when the Arab world, in its enormous expansion, defeated Byzantium in the region and claimed control of most of Libya and much of the region in general. Islam was introduced at this time, and before long the Berbers who inhabited the country had almost all converted.
At the beginning of the 16th century Libya was one of the important states that made up the Costa Barbaresca, a refuge for pirates who raided ships throughout the Mediterranean. The feared Barbarossa, also known as Barbarossa, whose real name was Khair ad-Din, was governor of Tripoli, ruling his mighty pirate kingdom from that city. The Ottomans arrived around this time, taking control of Libya, but allowing piracy to continue.
In 1911 the Italians invaded Libya, supposedly to free them from the Ottomans. A decade later the Italians recognized Sheikh Sidi Idris as emir. In 1951, Libya declared itself independent, making it the first country to use the United Nations to become independent. Idris was made king of the new monarchy. In 1959 large quantities of oil were discovered in the country, and it became relatively wealthy, though the wealth never reached the majority of the population, causing widespread discontent.
In 1969 the government was overthrown in a coup, led by Mu’ammar Abu Minyar al-Qadhafi, then only 28 years old. The new government dissolved the monarchy and declared a republic, although the Revolutionary Sector, made up of the important figures of the revolution, is not elected and cannot be dismissed. Libya has pursued an agenda of Arab unity, assumed a leadership role in Africa, and promoted a broadly socialist agenda. The leadership has also come under much criticism for human rights violations and state terrorism, and has been distrusted by the Western world at large and subject to sanctions for many years. Since 2003, Libya has made serious overtures to reconciliation with the West, paying reparations to the families of victims of some state-sponsored acts of terrorism, and publicly revealing its weapons of mass destruction program and dismantling it.
Libya offers some truly breathtaking views of North Africa, and for those who want to experience the vastness of the Sahara, this is the place to go. Ancient monoliths like Jebel Acacus bear witness to the encroachment of the Sahara, as mighty relics of ancient civilizations are now surrounded by an endless expanse of sand. The incredible Leptis Magna is the jewel in the crown of North African archaeological sites, with some of the most striking examples of Roman architecture outside of Italy. This is the site of the largest Roman baths outside Rome, the Baths of Hadrian and the mighty Arco Severo. The sands of the Sahara have preserved these ruins almost perfectly, and they are not to be missed.
Flights arrive regularly in Tripoli from several European countries, as well as from the Middle East, and the number of connected flights and airports is constantly increasing. Cruise ships also frequently stop in Tripoli. It is possible to travel overland from a number of neighboring countries, but it is recommended that you travel only from Tunisia or Egypt.
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