(ThyBlackMan.com) Raiders from what present day African country enslaved more than a million Europeans and US citizens in the 18th and 19th centuries? Their ships sailed as far north as Iceland attacking European shipping and coastal settlements seizing thousands upon thousands of captives and selling them into slavery.
This country eventually became a French colony, and France sent hundreds of thousands of its citizens and other Europeans to live here, fully intending to incorporate this African territory as an integral part of the French nation. However, that was not to be the case. The indigenous people fought a ten year struggle to gain their independence. When they succeeded, it led directly to the complete collapse of the French government in a military coup in which a general took power and rewrote the French constitution. A famous film was made about this nation’s liberation struggle.
Back in 215 BC, soldiers from this country formed the bulk of the warriors under Hannibal who soundly defeated Rome and ruled the Italian countryside for more than 15 years. St. Augustine, widely recognized as the primary architect of Christianity, was born here in 354. In 711 soldiers from this land were a major element of the forces that conquered Spain and Portugal under the leadership of Jabal Tariq. They and their descendants remained until 1492, the longest occupation in world history. Their presence ignited the Renaissance that lifted Europe out of the Dark Ages.
Now that you have heard these clues, the name of this country is what, say you? Congratulations if you said Algeria, the largest country in Africa. It contains the snow-covered Atlas Mountains and the second largest oil reserves on the continent. The US fought two wars (1801 – 1815) with this country in an unsuccessful attempt to end their slave raids. However, France in a horrific war that raged from 1830 to 1875, and killed hundreds of thousands on both sides, took complete control of Algeria and made it into a colony. Algeria gained its independence after a hard fought conflict that stretched from 1954 to 1962. That struggle was immortalized by Gillo Pontecorvo in his award-winning 1966 film, The Battle of Algiers. The loss of Algeria led directly to the collapse of the French government and the rise to power of General Charles de Gaulle who remained in power for ten years.
When it appeared as though a Muslim fundamentalist group would win, the Algerian authorities suspended national elections. This led to a ruinous Civil War (1991 – 2002). Things have since settled down and Algeria now enjoys great prosperity. Women have made great strides here. They are the vast majority of the nation’s doctors, lawyers and judges. Most college students are female, and women contribute more to household income than do men. Today nearly two million Algerians and their descendants reside in France.
Staff Writer; Arthur Lewin
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