Libya

Libya

Libya is in North Africa. It is bordered to the north by the Mediterranean Sea, to the east by Egypt, to the west by Algeria, to the south by both Chad and Niger, to the southeast by Sudan, and to the northwest by Tunisia.

Libya has a unique flag of a single green color. This is the traditional color of Islam; it emphasizes respect and devotion to the Islam religion.

Climate

Libya has a Mediterranean type of climate along the coast, and in the northern areas. In the interior it has a very dry desert type of climate.

Population

Libya is divided into three provinces; Tripolitania, which is the western part; Cyrenaica, which is the eastern part and Fezzan which is the southern part. Most of the Libyan population lives along the Mediterranean coast and majority of the population are Amazigh (Berbers) and Arabs.

Ethnic groups

Ethnic groups living in Libya include the Amazigh (Berbers), Arabs, Egyptians, Indians, Pakistanis, Tunisians, Italians, Maltese, Greeks, and Turks.

Language

Arabic is the both the main and official language. Other languages, like Italian and English, are widely understood by people living in the major cities.

Women traditionally stay home. When they are in public, they are covered with a veil although this practice is slowly vanishing from some urban areas. One normally begins doing this when one reaches puberty and stops when one reaches menopause.

Marriages are arranged by parents and it is normally the first male cousin who marries the girl, this is called "first right."

Economy

Farming and pastoralism were the original sources of income of Libya. Different families or towns specialized in either farming or pastoralism, but not both. This kind of specialization promoted trade between the various towns because products from both crops grown and animal reared are basic needs of life. Trade was also emphasized by the coming of the Arabs in the region.

Oil reserves were discovered in 1959. Libya’s economy today greatly depends on oil industry and their major exports include refined petroleum products and crude oil. Libya's major natural resources include petroleum, natural gas, and gypsum.

History

The first groups of people to migrate and settle in Libya were the Amazigh (Berbers). The Amazigh are the original inhabitants of Libya. Around 7 B.C., both the Phoenicians and the Greeks came into Libya. The Phoenicians colonized the eastern part of Libya while the Greeks colonized the western part. Then between 46 B.C. and A.D. 436, the Roman Empire took over the western part. The Roman Empire also took over the eastern part from the 1st century until the Empire collapsed. Then the Arabs came into the land around 642.

In 1911, the Italians came to Libya because of the fertile soils along the coast. They migrated to the south towards the Fezzan province. The people there rebelled and the Italians withdrew from Libya. They came back in 1934 more determined and colonized Libya., This time it was the people living in the Cyrenaica province who fought the Italians. Libya gained independence from Italy in 1951 on the 24th of December.

Though this page has been carefully researched, the author does not claim expertise on Libya.

Please send questions, comments, and corrections to emuseum@mnsu.edu and include the URL.

Sources

Central Intelligence Agency

The World FactBook, Africa; Libya. Electronic document,

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ly.html, accessed October, 2009.

Dalton, William G

Coutries and Their Countries, JA- MA; Culture of Libya. Electronic Documnet,

http://www.everyculture.com/Ja-Ma/Libya.html, accessed November, 2009.

Library of Congress - Federal Research Division

2005 Country Profile: Libya. Electronic Document,

http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/profiles/Libya.pdf, accessed October, 2009.