History

In the early BC's, the Algerian provinces were prominent weapon makers. Around 30,000 BC, the Flake Tool Method was used in the province of Bir el Ater. It is after this paleological dig site that the weapons of the time got their name: Aterian. The Iberomaurausian blade industry opened in the Oran region, which brought weapons to Neolithic Northern Africa. As depicted in the Tassili n'Ajjer paintings, the Mediterranean peoples learned to domesticate animals and practiced agriculture. Eventually, the people of this area became known as the Berbers, who are largely considered the indigenous population of the area.By 600 BC, a Carthaginian presence was made known in Africa. Despite the conquering nature of Carthage, these cities existed primarily as markets and anchorages. Even so, by the 4th century, enslavement made the Berbers the largest portion of the Carthaginian army. This was caused by aggressive land expansion on the part of the Cathaginians. In 241 BC, the Berber soldiers rebelled after being unpaid after Carthage's defeat in the First Punic War. Following this, the Berbers reclaimed much of Carthage's North African territory. It was around this time the Berbers minted coins labelled "Libyan", which was the word the Greeks used to describe Africa.In 146 BC, Carthage was destroyed, and the Carthaginian empire was replaced as the Berber leaders in the hinterlands grew in power. By the 2nd century BC, large but loosely administrated kingdoms had formed, particularly in Numibia and Mauretania. This was the high point of Berber civilization under Massinissa in 2nd century BC. When Massinissa died in 148 BC, the kingdoms were divided and reunited several times. At 24 BC, the remaining Berber territory was annexed into Rome.Under Roman rule, it functioned as one of the breadbaskets of the empire. Around 429, the vandals of Geiseric moved in, but made little headway, and in fact, by the time of the Byzantines, they had been forced out by the local tribes.Despite fierce fighting, in the 7th century the Muslims conquered Algeria. It was during this time where large swathes of Northern Africa converted to the Muslim faith. After the Umayyad Caliphate fell in 751, the provinces fell into numerous kingdoms, including the Aghlabids, Almohads, Abdalwadid, Zirids, Rustamids, Hammadids, Almoravids, and Fatimids.During the middle ages, North Africa, and particularly Algeria, was home to many scholars, saints, and sovereigns. The Fatimids formed a powerful, long lasting government that boasted a strong, secular inner core and a powerful military. When the Zirids threatened to secede and offered challenge to those who opposed them, the Fatimids fought back, and the Zirids found themselves overwhelmed despite early promise.In the early 16th century, the Spanish began making fortified encampments along the the land. By 1510 they possessed the major settlements of Oran, Tlemcen, Mostaganem, and Tenes. After this proved to be an expensive and ineffective method of controlling the land, the motion ceased. But afterwards, in 1516, two privateer brothers overthrew the leader of Algiers, and were granted titles by the Ottoman Sultan. With 2,000 janissaries, they subdued the land between Constantine and Oran, bringing it under Ottoman rule. Leaders known as "pashas" were elected on three year cicles, and lead contingents of janissaries known as "ojaq". The ojaq were ultimately their undoing, as the pasha did not regularly pay them, which lead to ojaq revolts. At the end of the revolutions, the pasha were replaced with deys, which at first were mainly ojaq chosen, but later were their own governing. The dey were elected for life as a form of constitutional autocrats. Despite repeated assassinations, usurpations, and mob rules, day to day ruling was remarkably stable.A period of piracy (16th century to 19th century) followed this time, and multiple wars with Europe and America were had during this time. This took a heavy toll on both sides, but ultimately lay in the Western Powers' favor. At the same time, in the mid 17th century, the French began to colonize the provinces on the pretext of a slight to their consul. The war for control reduced the population of Algeria by a third. The rule was claimed to "civilize" the people, but literacy actually dropped in Algeria at the time of French rule. A political elite of French speaking Berbers came into place, who were heavily favored by the french; in fact, 80% of French schools in the area were only for these French Berbers. A resistance grew in the form of the Front de Liberation Nationale (FLN), which drove the French out at the cost of 1.5 million Algerian lives, and hundreds of thousands of orphans, widows, and injuries.Ben Bella was the first leader of free Algeria, being the prior FLN leader. Morocco's claim to West Africa instigated the Sand War, and Ben Bella was overthrown by his ally Houari Boumediene. Both rulers had made the government increasingly socialist and authoritarian, though Boumediene was the worse of the two. In the 1960's, he pushed an agenda of industrialization, but his successor brought more liberal reforms and promoted Arabisation, and began the process of becoming politically Islamic. The Oil Glut of 1980 hit Algeria hard and brought the nation down a peg due to its heavy reliance on the mined liquid.In recent times, elections have proved vital for the Algerians. With every election, threats of violence have been present, but repeated amnesty efforts and reforms have kept the nation strong. Several terrorist groups like the AIS actually disbanded due to efforts on the Algerian government's part. Boutefilika, who has been elected three times, is the current president of Algeria, having been elected a fourth time.