Since this blog has been visited now by both Morocco and Libya, I thought we might look at North Africa today. I think I will follow this next week with the belt of countries below today's, but for now we'll consider those with Mediterranean coastline.You can see ancient terminology for these coastal territories above, split into two parts. Below is a contemporary outline map. We will move from west to east.
You may see larger images if you click on the ones shown here.
Morocco (French: Maroc)The Kingdom of Morocco shares with Spain the honor of having both Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts. It is a member of the Arab League but not of the African Union. Morocco is a constitutional monarchy and the current monarch is King Mohammed VI. While classical Arabic (in a Moroccan dialect) is the official language, Berber dialects are widely spoken, French functions as a second language of commerce, and Spanish is spoken in much of the northern part of the country. The national motto translates as : God, People, King. The capital city is Rabat.
Algeria (People's Democratic Republic of Algeria)
In the 19th century the French conquered Algeria in a long and deadly struggle. A guerrilla campaign for independence was launched by the FLN (National Liberation Front, in English) in 1954. Independence from France was finally won in 1962. A strong sense of Berber identity has led to recognition of Tamazight (Berber) as a national language along with Arabic. Algiers is the capital city.
The Algerian Civil War was an armed conflict between the Algerian government and various Islamist rebel groups which began in 1991. It is estimated to have cost between 150,000 and 200,000 lives. More than 70 journalists were assassinated, either by security forces or by Islamists.[4] The conflict effectively ended with a government victory, following the surrender of the Islamic Salvation Army and the 2002 defeat of the Armed Islamic Group. However, low-level fighting still continues in some areas. [Wikipedia]
Tunisia (Tunisian Republic)
urbs antiqua fuit (Tyrii tenuere coloni)Thus Carthage enters the tale recounted in Vergil's Aeneid.
Karthago, Italiam contra Tiberinaque longe
ostia, dives opum studiisque asperrima belli,
quam Iuno fertur terris magis omnibus unam
posthabita coluisse Samo. hic illius arma,
hic currus fuit; hoc regnum dea gentibus esse,
si qua fata sinant, iam tum tenditque fovetque.
Tunisia is famous in ancient history for the important and powerful city of Carthage and its struggle with Rome in the Punic Wars. Tunisia has had a long history and been the focus of many foreign powers and their ambitions through millennia. Crucial battles were fought there during WWII, the German-Italian Axis forces ultimately being defeated by the Allies. Tunisia gained full independence from France in 1956. Tunisia is now a republic with a strong presidential system. Tunis is the capital city.
Libya (Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya)
Libya has low population density and high petroleum holdings, leading to a high GDP. Its flag is the only one in the world of a single color with no further design or insignia. For a period in the 20th century it was an Italian colony, then an independent kingdom, and finally, following a coup, a military dictatorship under Muammar al-Gaddafi. The capital is Tripoli.
Egypt (Arab Republic of Egypt)
The ancient civilization of Egypt under the pharaohs and the role of the Nile floods need no repeating here. "Kemet" is an ancient Egyptian name for the country and means "black land" from dark fertile soil deposited by the Nile. Arab nationalism grew in the mid-20th century and for a while Egypt and Syria together formed the United Arab Republic. It took the name Egypt when the two nations separated. Arabic nationalism has been questioned by Egyptians who see their ethnic and cultural roots as predating the rise of Arab identity. Egypt has been a republic since 1953. The struggle toward full democracy continues.
Although power is ostensibly organized under a multi-party semi-presidential system, whereby the executive power is theoretically divided between the President and the Prime Minister, in practice it rests almost solely with the President who traditionally has been elected in single-candidate elections for more than fifty years [Wikipedia]The capital of Egypt is Cairo.
M-A-T-L-ECan you now recite the nations stretching along the Mediterranean coast of Africa?
Very good!
Which nation's flag has a star without a crescent?
Which has only one color?
Which has a golden hawk in the middle?
Which one has something to do with the movie "Umbrellas of Cherbourg"? No, that wasn't in the information above, but I bet some of you out there know the answer. The young girl sings (in the English translation): "If it takes forever I will wait for you." Does she?
Which nation is the site of ancient Carthage?
Which the setting of the movie "Casablanca"?
All right, then. Gold stars for most of you and Easter chocolate for all around.
--the BB
