Brief historical overview of Algeria

Because of its strategic position at the crossroads of Africa and the Mediterranean, Algeria has seen many civilizations succeeding on its territory.

The first signs of human presence in Algeria date back more than a million years (man of Ain hanech). In Antiquity, Algeria was known as the kingdom of Numidia and its people were called NUMIDIANS and IMAZIGHEN which means “Free men”. Also they were called Berbers by Romans.

Around 800 BC, the Phoenicians founded many trading posts on the Algerian coast.

During the Carthage wars, which waged between Carthage and Rome, the Berber king Massinissa conquered Cirta (present-day Constantine), of which he made his capital. The mausoleum of El Khroub testifies today to the splendor of this time.

After the revolt of Jugurtha, grandson of King Massinissa, his kingdom broke up and despite his fierce resistance against Rome, Numidia, fallen into the hands of the Romans and became the breadbasket of the empire for centuries.

From this period remain many archaeological evidences among which we can mention Djemila, Timgad, Tipaza ...

Since 432, the Vandals under the command of Jenseric, swept over the Numidian territory. They were in turn routed by the Byzantines in 533.

In 647, the Arabs, commanded by the Prophet's companion Okba Ibn Nafaa, settled under the banner of Islam in Algeria. The Berber tribes adopted Islam massively and contributed largely to its expansion and influence in Andalusia.

Several dynasties, the Rostomids (776-909), the Fatimids (908-972), the Zirids (972-1148), the Hammadites (1007-1152), the Almoravids (1052-1147), the Almohads (1147-1269) the Zianides (1235-1554) ... have emerged in Algeria between the 8th and 16th centuries.

The dynasties that ruled Algeria, weakened by incessant Spanish attacks, ended in 1514 by calling upon Brothers Aroudj and kheir Eddine Barbarossa. The latter, mandated by the Sultan of Constantinople helped to drive the Spaniards out the Algerian coast. In 1587 Algeria became an Ottoman regency enjoying, however, a large autonomy.

In 1830, French colonization began. From that date until the outbreak of the war of national liberation on November 1, 1954, the colonial power had to face the resistance of the Algerian people. The Independence of Algeria was proclaimed on July 5th, 1962.