North African Atlas

By Makenna Smith

Endangered cultures are the threatened extinction of various cultures and languages in indigenous societies. Colonization and globalization contributed to this extinction of learning traditional customs in younger generations. In 2001, Morocco was struggling with the endangerment of the Berber culture. The Berber language was at risk of being lost as the Arabic language was growing in popularity in the country. About 60% of Moroccan citizens were Berber, but despite this vast majority, they were treated as less than the members of Arab culture. This division has led to discrimination and the marginalization of Berber people within Morocco. However, despite its initial treatment, Berber culture is currently thriving in Morocco and all fears of it disappearing have been lost.

Morocco also faces issues with the loss of biodiversity. 1,700 plants have been labeled as rare or threatened, which means there is a potential loss of 24% of plant diversity. There has been a major decline in biodiversity in all ecosystems within Morocco. This decline has been caused by human activity, growth in population, deforestation, overfishing, climate change and so much more. Morocco’s oases have been vanishing over the years and the once lush, green, flowing oasis is now dry, cracked, and basically gone. Many homes and jobs have been lost due to this decline in oasis life, as the resources it offered have now almost completely disappeared. As climate change continues to get worse, it is even more important to take action in conserving these rich, lively Moroccan lands.

Sources:

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/9781118924396.wbiea2054

https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Morocco-s-Berbers-Battle-to-Keep-From-Losing-2941557.php

https://www.cbd.int/countries/profile/?country=ma

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/interactive/2022/climate-change-morocco-oasis-disappearing/

During the late 19^th century, Egyptian nationalism first began as an Anti-English sentiment during the Egyptian revolution of 1919. The rule of Muhammad Ali of Egypt led the country to a more advanced level of industrialization in comparison with the neighboring countries. More discoveries of relics from the ancient Egypt civilization were discovered as well. One of the first major Egyptian nationalist movements was the Urabi movement which took place in the 1870s and 1880s. This movement demanded an end to the alleged dictatorship of the Muhammed Ali family and put an end to the growth of European influence. The slogan for this movement was “Egypt for Egyptians.” One of the key figures in opposing British rule was an Egyptian journalist, Yaqub Sanu. Particular methods Sanu used to promote the movement’s message included publishing illustrations with the intent to ridicule Egypt’s British rulers. The British were portrayed as buffoons in these illustrations. Moreover, Sanu was the first to write in Egyptian Arabic, which was used to appeal to the public and to be easily understood. Sanu eventually fled to Paris after his arrest was ordered but continued to publish his works and smuggle them into Egypt. Shortly after, the 20^th century arrived, and Egyptian nationalism became focused on ending British occupation. The movement had support from Liberals and socialists in Britain. Egyptian nationalism then reached its peak in popularity in 1919; when a revolution against British rule took place in response to wartime policies imposed by the British authorities in Egypt during World War I. Three years of protest and political turmoil followed until Britain unilaterally declared the independence of Egypt in 1922 which was a monarchy, though Britain reserved several areas for British supervision. Overall, Egyptian nationalism was a civic type of nationalism and emphasized the unity of Egyptians, regardless of ethnicity or religion.

Nationalism in Morocco first became apparent in the 1920s. A committee by the name of the Morocco Action Committee was made in the early 1930s and was turned into a nationalist political party. However, their committee was suppressed by the French in 1937. The Moroccan nationalist party had a lot of tension and division until World War II, during which they joined forces and became hopeful that political change was possible in the postwar era. In 1944, The Moroccan Independence Party “released a manifesto demanding full independence, national reunification, and a democratic constitution.” (The Rise of Nationalism). The French resident general and the sultan had opposing ideas of independence for the country and it caused conflict from then on out.

Income inequality in Morocco is very high. In 2013, the national income of the richest 10% of residents was 12 times higher than the national income of the poorest 10% of residents. Morocco has the power to reduce this large income gap between the rich and the poor but they have yet to utilize that power. They need to improve the education system and give more jobs to women. Moroccan government also needs to modernize taxation and reduce corruption. By taking action on all these issues, the income inequality can be drastically reduced and make their country more successful and financially stable. 

Sources:

https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/morocco/history-nationalism.htm 

https://www.africaportal.org/publications/inequality-morocco-international-perspective/ 

Tunisia sits at the northernmost tip of North Africa. It shares over 1,000 miles of pristine coastline with the Mediterranean Sea, while most of of the south consists of arid desert. It shares direct borders with Libya and Algeria, and just a boat ride away from Sicily and Malta. Historically, it has been a strategic crossroads to connect Europe to Northern Africa and the Middle East. The northern part of Tunisia is the most heavily populated, home of the Atlas mountains, as well as Tunisia’s only major river: the Medjerda. The North is is also home to most of Tunisia’s fertile soil and agriculture. Central Tunisia is semi-arid with poor soil and a scarce population. And the South is an arid desert that connects with the top of the Sahara. Population in the south is scarce, save the few scatterings near oases. Tunisia is known for it’s natural resource deposits of petroleum, phosphates, iron ore, lead, zinc, salt and gold. It is facing several environmental issues including toxic and hazardous waste and water pollution from inadequate waste disposal. It holds a limited amount of fresh water and still faces overgrazing, deforestation, soil erosion and desertification. Although Tunisia might seem tough and hospitable in some places, the countryside and the big cities share great scenery and refreshing warm weather.

https://www.countryreports.org/country/Tunisia/geography.htm

https://www.thoughtco.com/geography-of-tunisia-1435665

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Tunisia/@33.8003446,5.0662744,6z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x125595448316a4e1:0x3a84333aaa019bef!8m2!3d34.1118046!4d9.5553589

For months, many countries have experienced countless hardships due to the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war. One country included in this crisis is Egypt. While Egypt is located in a separate part of the globe, the country has undergone many changes ever since. This includes strategic realignments, energy security, and food supplies. Egypt is currently facing a major food crisis due to its dependency on the Russian and Ukrainian wheat supply. Nearly half of the population within Egypt is struggling to fight poverty, yet bread prices have remained unchanged. The government has responded by implementing more onerous import rules, devaluing the local currency, and pushing up interest rates. The Egyptian government must balance the demands of investors, whose money could alleviate the economic crisis, with the risks of implementing measures that could cause even more economic pain for the citizens. Moreover, Egypt’s peaceful relationship with Russia puts the country in a position that opposes the western allies, particularly the United States and European countries. Cairo, the capital of Egypt, receives its military, economic, security, and political support from these western countries. With the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, Egypt is put into a tough spot to maneuver in between the conflict.

Hello, my name is Olivia, and I will be discussing the history and unique culture of Egypt. Located in the northeastern corner of Africa, Egypt was once one of the greatest and most powerful civilizations in the history of the world. It lasted for over 3000 years from around 3100 B.C. to 30 B.C. Egypt’s heartland, the Nile River valley and delta, was the home of the principal civilizations of the ancient Middle East. The Nile River is considered one of the longest rivers in the world, flowing over 4,100 miles and emptying into the Mediterranean Sea. The capital of Egypt, Cairo, is one of the largest cities in Africa. It has remained on the same site near the Nile for more than 1,000 years. Moreover, ancient Egypt had close connections with various parts of the world, bringing in and exporting goods, religions, food, people, and ideas. It dominated the territory of what is now modern-day Sudan, Cyprus, Lebanon, Syria, Israel, and Palestine. Moreover, Egypt has a rich history and culture that dates back thousands of years. What makes Egypt so unique is the quality and quantity of the cultural objects that have survived all the way up to the present time. Structures such as the Pyramids, Sphinx, the treasures of Tutankhamun’s tomb, the monuments and temples of the Nile Valley, hieroglyphics, mummies, and papyrus makes Egypt a prominent country on the map.

Algeria is located in Western North Africa. It has a population of 45, 502,000. Its official spoken language is Arabic and Amazigh. Muslim is the predominantly religion in Algeria. Their government consists of two multi-republic with two legislative houses. The capital of Algeria is Algiers. Fun fact, Algeria has the Earth’s hottest temperature recording in the Sahara dessert.

Sites: (https://www.britannica.com/place/Algeria,https://www.nationsonline.org.)

Hi, my name is Rowan and I’ll be covering the various topics and intricacies of the country of Tunisia. Also known as the Republic of Tunisia, it is home to the eastern stretches of the Atlas mountains and the northern sands of the Sahara desert. It’s 1,300 kilometer coastline connects the western and eastern parts of the Mediterranean sea. The coast is home to the capital city of Tunis, along with the majority of the population. The climate in Tunisia is separated into a few regions: The northern tip which houses the capital is temperate, with hot, dry summers. The rest of Tunisia is comprised of the arid, dry and hot Sahara desert, dotted with smaller villages near water sources and oases. As of October, the population of Tunisia has reached slightly above 12.1 million people, seeing a rapid increase in population in the past few years from immigration and increased birth rates. Along with the of the rest of North Africa, Arabic is the national language of Tunisia. Tunisian Arabic, also known Tunisian Derja, is built significantly off of Berber (or Shelha), African Romance, French, English and Italian. Multilingualism from several outside influences means speakers could switch languages mid-sentence or for specific words while speaking: mostly English, French or Italian. Although difficult to understand, the Tunisian dialect is distinctly different from other forms of Arabic across North Africa. The long established outside influence throughout history has given Tunisia a very unique, mixed, and interesting culture. Influence from Phoenicians, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Vandals, Turks, Italians, Maltese, French and others throughout history has hugely impacted music, architecture, literature, art, food, sports, government, religion and industry. The predominant religion in Tunisia, by a large majority, is Sunnī Muslims. who account for roughly 98% of the population. The remaining 2% is comprised of Christians, Jews, Shia Muslims, Baha’is and non-believers. The largest industries in the Tunisian market are petroleum (roughly 97,600 barrels of oil per day) , mining (specifically Phosphate and iron), tourism, agriculture (predominantly olive oil) and textiles. The governing powers in Tunisia are driven heavily by religious factors. Tunisia is a representative democracy and a republic with a serving president (currently Kais Saied) who serves as head of state and who “shall be Islam” per the newly passed Tunisian constitution in 2014. The prime minister (Najla Bouden), serves as head of government for a unicameral parliament. Tunisia was uniquely the only democratic country in North Africa up until 2o21. Following the recent revolution, Tunisia now holds over 100 legalized political parties. From beautiful coastlines to desert and a diverse range of culture and language, Tunisia is definitely a country worth putting at the top of your bucket list.

https://globaledge.msu.edu/countries/tunisia/economy

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Tunisia

https://www.state.gov/reports/2019-report-on-international-religious-freedom/tunisia/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunisia#Languages

https://worldpopulationreview.com/countries/tunisia-population

https://www.worldometers.info/oil/saudi-arabia-oil/

https://pomed.org/snapshot-yea-or-stay-away-kais-saieds-autocratic-referendum/

https://pomed.org/kais-saieds-next-target-in-tunisia-civil-society/?gclid=CjwKCAjws–ZBhAXEiwAv-RNLwlXF55dPIrqnmUq3R9T8I7Wj3iHZ1JWtxiNh9CHHy0FQF-WaG0qwRoC2fEQAvD_BwE

Hi, my name is Makenna and over the course of this term I will be updating this blog with information and news about the country of Morocco. Morocco is the only monarchy in Northern Africa and it was established in 789 AD. Morocco’s capital is Rabat and their official language is Arabic. Morocco is best known for the Atlas Mountains and their wonderful cuisine and culture.

Sources: https://www.britannica.com/place/Morocco

Hello and welcome to our blog! We are going to be discussing various cultural and relevant news about 4 different countries from Northern Africa. I will be talking about Morocco, Olivia will be talking about Egypt, Rowan will be talking about Tunisia, and Lisa will talking about Southern Sudan. We hope you enjoy learning about this region of Africa as much as we enjoyed researching it!