History of Algeria

Brief history of Algeria summarized

A brief overview of the history of Algeria.

Old Algeria

In the year 150 BC there were Berber kingdoms in what is now Algeria. However, in 24 BC they were annexed by the Romans. The Romans built roads, cities, and aqueducts. Under the Romans, Algeria converted to Christianity.

The great theologian Augustine (354-430) lived in Hippo (now Annaba). When the Roman Empire in the west collapsed, a people called the Vandals passed through Algeria on their way to Tunisia, but had little effect on the area.

At the end of the 7th century the Arabs conquered Algeria. They introduced Islam. The Arabs ruled Algeria until the 16th century. In 1516 the Ottoman Turks took over the region.

However, in 1671 Algeria was semi-independent. It was ruled by a man named Dey. Algeria also served as a base for the Barbary pirates. However, in 1830 the French invaded Algeria. Little by little they conquered the region and in 1848 Algeria was declared a French territory.

Modern Algeria

However, Algerian nationalism grew in the mid-20th century. The Algerian War of Independence began in 1954. It continued until 1962. President Charles De Gaulle finally accepted that Algerian independence was inevitable. On March 18, 1962, a ceasefire was signed.

In a referendum, the people overwhelmingly voted for independence. On July 5, 1962, Algeria became independent. Ahmed Ben Bella became the first president. However, he was overthrown in 1965. He was replaced by Colonel Houari Boumedienne, who died in 1978. He in turn was replaced by Colonel Chadli Bendjedid.

Algeria was a one-party state, but the riots of 1988 led to some reforms. In 1989 the Algerians were granted the right to form other parties. In the municipal elections of 1990, the fundamentalist Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) obtained the majority of the votes cast.

They also won the first round of national legislative elections in 1991. However, the army intervened and the second round of elections was cancelled. Bendjedid was replaced by a 5-man Council of State.

There was then a long civil war in Algeria. The armed wing of the FIS, the Islamic Salvation Army, was dissolved in 200. Abdelaziz Bouteflika was elected president in 1999.

He was re-elected in 2004, 2009 and 2014. Today, Algeria suffers from high unemployment and its economy is highly dependent on oil. However, the economy is constantly growing. At present, the population of Algeria is 41 million inhabitants.

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