Who was in North Africa before the Arabs?
Northwest Africa has been inhabited by Berbers since the beginning of recorded history, while the eastern part of North Africa has been home to the Egyptians. Between the A.D. 600s and 1000s, Arabs from the Middle East swept across the region in a wave of Muslim conquest.
What was North Africa like before Islam?
They were mostly nomadic people with very few having settled cultures. However, some historians put their existence in North Africa at around 3000 B.C. The takeaway from identifying these groups of people is that they are still in present-day North Africa.
How did the Arabs occupy North Africa?
The Arabs reached the Maghreb in early Umayyad times. Departing from Damascus, Arab forces marched into North Africa, and in 670 the city of Kairouan (south of modern Tunis) was established as a refuge and base for further operations. By 698, the Arabs had taken most of North Africa from the Byzantines.
When did the Arabs settle North Africa?
11th century
The migration of Arabs to North Africa in the 11th century was a major factor in the ethnical, linguistic and cultural Arabization of the Maghreb region. The descendants of the original Arab settlers who continue to speak Arabic as a first language currently form the single largest population group in North Africa.
How did Islam initially spread to North Africa?
The spread of Islam in Africa began in the 7th to 9th century, brought to North Africa initially under the Umayyad Dynasty. Extensive trade networks throughout North and West Africa created a medium through which Islam spread peacefully, initially through the merchant class.
When did North Africa Arab?
Arrival of Islam The Arab invasion of the Maghrib began in 642 CE when Amr ibn al-As, the governor of Egypt, invaded Cyrenaica, advancing as far as Tripoli by 645 CE. Further expansion into North Africa waited another twenty years, due to the First Fitna.