Many Berber tribes lived in ancient Libya. Of these tribes the libu was most populous. Ancient Libyans were nomadic hunter gatherers who lived off goats, camels, and other livestock. Not much is known about the early history of Libya and most records of early Libyan people are by other neighboring groups such as the Egyptians. Earliest records show that parts of Libya were ruled by the Phonetians and Carthaginians. From there, Libya was ruled by the Greeks who established major cities in eastern Libya. After the Greeks, the Roman Empire took over and developed Libya into one of its many wealthy provinces. Proof of Libya’s wealth and prosperity during this time can be seen at Libya’s many roman ruins. From the Romans, Libya was taken over by the Arabs whose rule lasted into the 16th century.
In 700 B.C., the Greeks had arrived in Libya. They established five major colonies in eastern Libya (also known as Cyrenaica). These five colonies where knows as The Pentopolis, because of the five major cities, Cyrene, Apollonia, Ptolemais, Taucheira, Berenice, that were in the colonies. The pentopolis enjoyed a good deal of autonomy, with Greek influence being limited to the coastal regions of Libya. Some areas of southern Libya experienced no Greek presence at all. Libya’s green mountain provided fertile land for the Greeks and supplied them with livestock, grain, and wine. Because of this, Pentapolis had a high level of civilization. Cyrene, in particular, was one of the most culturally and academically developed city in North Africa. The Greek influence in Pentopolis was strong until around 300b.c, when it began to dwindle. Finally with the rise of the Roman Empire, the last Greek ruler of Libya, Ptolemy Apion surrendered Pentopolis to Rome.
After the Punic wars, Rome had taken over the eastern part of Libya known as Cyrenaica around 100B.C. The western part was later captured and given the provincial name Tripolitania. Under roman rule, Libya prospered economically with the city, Leptis Magna, rivalling Alexandria and Carthage in prominence. For years, Tripolitania and Cyrenaica were wealthy roman provinces and had a common language and legal system. The ruins of Leptis Magna and Sabratha could attest to the prosperity Roman Libya experienced with the cities great baths and forums. Roman Libya began its decline around 300 A.D. and was divided up by its rulers until the mid-7th century when Arabs invaded.
With the decline of the Roman Empire, Roman hold over Libya became weak. Around 650 A.D., Arabs invaded Libya and received little retaliation from the few romans left there. This begins the history of Islamic rule of Tripolitania and Cyrenaica. Several dynasties ruled over Libya throughout its Islamic rule. One which prospered was the Hafsid dynasty, who ruled for 300 years. Hafsid rulers established trade with city states of Europe and promoted scholarship in areas of art, literature, and architecture. Libya’s period of Arab rule lasted 800 years until Spanish takeover in the 16th century.
Nicholas Stahl