The Libyan period
The Libyans inhabited North Africa west of the Nile during prehistoric times. The Libyans are mentioned by the Egyptians in the 12th century BC. The temple of Pharaoh Sethi I, Ramses II’s father, depicts four Libyans in costume. The Greeks have Libyan populations as well. At the time, ancient Libya traded with the Greeks, Phoenicians, and Egyptians.
The Phoenician period
When the Egyptian and Hittite empires stopped fighting each other around 1200 BC, Phoenicia was able to gain independence. The Phoenician inhabitants, who lived in what is now modern Lebanon/Syria, established a large number of trading facilities on and near the Mediterranean islands. The Phoenicians established a vast economic network as they were excellent navigators, traders, and craftspeople. Carthage and Tingis (tangier) are two significant cities.
The Punic Era or Carthaginian
The Phoenicians also established permanent settlements in the counters to build cities, like as Carthage, known in Punic as “Qart Hadasht.” Carthage in Tunisia, which had grown extremely powerful, was going to triumph over its rivals. Then, we discuss the Carthaginian culture. The Phoenicians established the Carthaginian or “Punic” civilisation in northern Tunisia about 814 BC. The Phoenician immigrants and the local Berbers both contribute to the Carthaginian civilization’s impact. This city will assume a significant role and lead to the establishment of commercial stations along the Mediterranean coast. The exclusivity of commerce in Carthage from North Africa and the lack of plundering are mentioned in trade agreements from 509 and 348 BC, respectively.
Carthaginian wars
But there are growing resentments toward the Roman Empire. Sicily becomes a problem and the focus of a conflict. This causes the first Punic War, which begins in 261 BC and lasts 23 years and is mostly naval in nature. Rome will demand a high price from Carthage. Scipio the African, the Roman proconsul from Hispania, leads the second Punic War and sets out to capture Carthage, which he eventually does in 209 BC. Rome’s intention to utterly destroy Carthage led to the 3rd Punic War, which lasted from 149 BC to 146 BC. As a result, Rome comes to rule over the whole Mediterranean basin as well as Ifriqiya. But both linguistically and religiously, Punic Africa’s culture is still present.