North Africa

===Antiquity and ancient Rome===
{{Main|History of North Africa#Classical period}}
[[File:Septimius Severus Glyptothek Munich 357.jpg|thumb|[[Septimius Severus]], the first [[Roman Empire|Roman]] emperor native to North Africa, born in [[Leptis Magna]] in present-day [[Libya]]]]
The most notable nations of antiquity in western North Africa are [[Carthage]], [[Numidia]] and [[Mauretania]]. The Phoenicians colonized much of North Africa including Carthage and parts of present-day Morocco (including [[Chellah]], [[Essaouira]] and [[Volubilis]]<ref>{{cite web|author=C. Michael Hogan |url=http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=14906 |title=Volubilis – Ancient Village or Settlement in Morocco |publisher=The Megalithic Portal |date=18 December 2007 |access-date=23 May 2010}}</ref>). The Carthaginians were of [[Phoenicia]]n origin, with the Roman myth of their origin being that [[Dido]], a Phoenician princess, was granted land by a local ruler based on how much land she could cover with a piece of cowhide. She ingeniously devised a method to extend the cowhide to a high proportion, thus gaining a large territory. She was also rejected by the [[Troy|Trojan]] prince [[Aeneas]] according to [[Virgil]], thus creating a historical enmity between Carthage and [[Rome]], as Aeneas would eventually lay the foundations for Rome. [[Ancient Carthage]] was a commercial power and had a strong navy, but relied on mercenaries for land soldiers. The Carthaginians developed an empire in the [[Iberian Peninsula]], [[Malta]], [[Sardinia]], [[Corsica]] and northwest [[Sicily]], the latter being the cause of [[First Punic War]] with the [[Roman Republic|Romans]].

Over a hundred years and more, all Carthaginian territory was eventually conquered by the Romans, resulting in the Carthaginian North African territories becoming the [[Africa (Roman province) |Roman province of Africa]] in 146 B.C.<ref>{{cite book|title =The Punic Wars 264–146 BC|first= Nigel|last= Bagnall|publisher = Osprey|date = 2002|isbn =9781472895530}}</ref> This led to tension and eventually [[war|conflict]] between [[Numidia]] and Rome. The Numidian wars are notable for launching the careers of both [[Gaius Marius]], and [[Sulla]], and stretching the constitutional burden of the Roman republic as Marius required a professional army, something previously contrary to Roman values, to overcome the talented [[military]] leader [[Jugurtha]].<ref>[[Sallust]], ''De Bello Iugurthino''</ref> Kingdom of [[Mauretania]] remained independent until being annexed to the Roman Empire by Emperor [[Claudius]] in 42 AD.

North Africa remained a part of the Roman Empire, producing notable citizens, including [[Augustine of Hippo]], until incompetent leadership from Roman commanders in the early fifth century allowed the [[Germanic peoples]], the [[Vandals]], to cross the [[Strait of Gibraltar]], whereupon they overcame the fickle Roman defense. The loss of North Africa is considered a pinnacle point in the fall of the Western Roman Empire as Africa had previously been an important grain province that maintained Roman prosperity despite the barbarian incursions, and the wealth required to create new armies. The issue of regaining North Africa became paramount to the Western Empire, but was frustrated by Vandal victories. The focus of Roman energy had to be on the emerging threat of the [[Huns]]. In 468 AD, the Romans made one last serious attempt to invade North Africa but were repelled. This perhaps marks the point of terminal decline for the [[Western Roman Empire]]. 

The last Roman emperor was deposed in 476 by the [[Herules|Heruli]] general [[Odoacer]]. [[Trade route]]s between [[Europe]] and North Africa remained intact until the coming of Islam. Some Berbers were members of the [[Early African Church]] (but evolved their own [[Donatism|Donatist doctrine]]),<ref>{{Cite web|website=BBC World Service |series= The Story of Africa |title=The Berbers|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/specials/1624_story_of_africa/page66.shtml|access-date=2023-02-08|publisher=BBC}}</ref> some were [[Berber Jews]], and some adhered to [[traditional Berber religion]]. [[African pope]] [[Pope Victor I|Victor I]] served during the reign of Roman emperor [[Septimius Severus]]. Furthermore, during the rule of the Romans, Byzantines, Vandals, Ottomans and Carthaginians the Kabyle people were the only or one of the few in North Africa who remained independent.<ref>{{cite book| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=4CfBKvsiWeQC&pg=PA156 | title = The Middle East and North Africa: Pg 156| isbn = 978-1-85743-132-2| author1 = Eur| publisher = Psychology Press}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=83koAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA118 | title = Sketches of Algeria During the Kabyle War By Hugh Mulleneux Walmsley: Pg 118| last1 = Walmsley| first1 = Hugh Mulleneux| year = 1858}}</ref><ref>{{cite book| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=wqF8CgAAQBAJ&pg=PT167 | title = The Kabyle People By Glora M. Wysner| isbn = 978-1-4474-8352-6| last1 = Wysner| first1 = Glora M.| date = 30 January 2013| publisher = Read Books}}</ref><ref>{{cite book| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=pv80AQAAMAAJ&q=Kabylia | title = The Encyclopedia Americana, Volume 1: Pg 568| year = 1990| publisher = Grolier| isbn = 978-0-7172-0121-1}}</ref> 

The Kabyle people were incredibly resistible so much so that even during the Arab conquest of North Africa they still had control and possession over their mountains.<ref>{{cite journal| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=GI5CAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA45 | journal= The Art-Journal|location = London|volume= 4|page= 45| year = 1865|title = Kabyle Pottery|last = Bodichon}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=JU5CAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA93 | title = The Barbary Coast By Henry Martyn Field: Pg 93| last1 = Field| first1 = Henry Martyn| year = 1893}}</ref>