Maghreb, (Arabic: “West”) also spelled Maghrib, region of North Africa bordering the Mediterranean Sea. The Africa Minor of the ancients, it at one time included Moorish Spain and now comprises essentially the Atlas Mountains and the coastal plain of Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya.
Why is it called the Maghreb?
Etymology. The word maghreb is an Arabic term literally meaning “place of setting (of the sun)” , and hence “West.” It derives from the root ghuroob, meaning “to set” or “to be hidden”. It is also used in a manner similar to the metaphorical use “to be eclipsed”, which is used in English.
What are Morocco Tunisia and Algeria called?
The countries of Morocco , Algeria , and Tunisia have also been known as the Atlas Lands, for the Atlas Mountains that dominate their northern landscapes, although each country, especially Algeria , incorporates sizable sections of the Sahara.
What countries are in Le Maghreb?
The Maghreb region is located in the northern part of Africa and comprises the western Sahara, i.e. Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, as well as Mauritania, and Libya . Today, the population of these 5 countries amounts to roughly 100 million people.
What are the six countries that make up North Africa?
The UN subregion of North Africa consists of 7 countries at the northernmost part of the continent — Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Sudan, Tunisia, Western Sahara . North Africa is an economically prosperous area, generating one-third of Africa's total GDP. Oil production is high in Libya.
What race is Berber?
Berbers or Imazighen (Berber languages: ⵉⵎⴰⵣⵉⵖⵏ, ⵎⵣⵗⵏ, romanized: Imaziɣen; singular: Amaziɣ, ⴰⵎⴰⵣⵉⵖ ⵎⵣⵗ; Arabic: أمازيغ) are an ethnic group who are indigenous to North Africa , specifically Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, the Canary Islands, and to a lesser extent in Mauritania, northern Mali, and northern Niger.
Is Libya richer than Morocco?
Libya has a GDP per capita of $9,600 as of 2017, while in Morocco, the GDP per capita is $8,600 as of 2017.
Are people from Maghreb Arabs?
The people of the Maghreb belong to both Berber and Arab ethnolinguistic groups . The Berbers are descended from the earlier inhabitants of the region and may trace their ancestry to Paleolithic times.
Why is North Africa called Maghreb?
As recently as the late 19th century, the term “Maghreb” was used to refer to the Western Mediterranean region of coastal North Africa in general , and to Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia, in particular. During the rule of the Berber kingdom of Numidia, the region was somewhat unified as an independent political entity.
What language is Maghreb?
Modern Standard Arabic (الفصحى al-Fusḥā) is the primary language used in the government, legislation and judiciary of countries in the Maghreb. Maghrebi Arabic is mainly a spoken and vernacular language, although it occasionally appears in entertainment and advertising in urban areas of Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia.
What is the religion of the Maghreb?
Islam had succeeded Christianity as the religion of the majority. While Islam has remained the predominant religion since the first Arab invasion in 647 C.E., small communities of minority religions have managed to coexist peacefully in the Maghreb.
Is Lebanon part of the Maghreb?
The Maghreb is approximately defined most of the region of Northwest Africa, and west of Egypt . According to geography, it traditionally includes Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya.
What are buildings in Morocco made of?
In addition to rammed earth, brick and (especially in desert regions) mudbrick were also common types of materials for the construction of houses, civic architecture, and mosques. Many medieval minarets, for example, are made in brick, in many cases covered with other materials for decoration.
Is Egypt an Arab or African country?
Although Egypt sits in the north of the African continent it is considered by many to be a Middle Eastern country , partly because the main spoken language there is Egyptian Arabic, the main religion is Islam and it is a member of the Arab League.
Why is North Africa a desert?
The answer lies in the climate of the Arctic and northern high latitudes. ... However, around 5,500 years ago there was a sudden shift in climate in northern Africa leading to rapid acidification of the area . What was once a tropical, wet, and thriving environment suddenly turned into the desolate desert we see today.
How many countries are in the world?
There are 195 countries in the world today. This total comprises 193 countries that are member states of the United Nations and 2 countries that are non-member observer states: the Holy See and the State of Palestine.
