Roman era North Africa during Antiquity

roman domination of northern mediterranean coasts of africa began when carthago defeated. roman empire in following century controlled coasts nile valley atlantic ocean of actual morocco

the roman military presence of north africa relatively small if related other areas of empire, consisting of 28,000 troops , auxiliaries in numidia , 2 mauretanian provinces. starting in 2nd century ce, these garrisons manned local inhabitants, because area considered pacified , totally romanised.

aside carthage, urbanization in north africa came in part establishment of settlements of veterans under roman emperors claudius, nerva, , trajan.

in actual algeria such settlements included tipasa, cuicul or curculum (modern djemila, northeast of sétif), thamugadi (modern timgad, southeast of sétif), , sitifis (modern setif). prosperity of towns depended on agriculture. called granary of empire, north africa 1 of largest exporters of grain in empire, exported provinces did not produce cereals, italy , greece. other crops included fruit, figs, grapes, , beans. 2nd century ce, olive oil rivaled cereals export item.

the beginnings of decline less serious in north africa elsewhere. there uprisings, however. in ce 238, landowners rebelled unsuccessfully against emperor s fiscal policies. sporadic tribal revolts in mauretanian mountains followed 253 288. towns suffered economic difficulties, , building activity ceased.

the towns of roman north africa had substantial jewish population. jews had been deported judea or palestine in 1st , 2nd centuries ce rebelling against roman rule; others had come earlier punic settlers. in addition, number of berber tribes had converted judaism.

christianity

early christianity arrived in 2nd century , gained converts in towns , among slaves. more eighty bishops, distant frontier regions of numidia, attended council of carthage in 256. end of 4th century, settled areas had become christianized, , berber tribes had converted en masse.

a division in church came known donatist controversy began in 313 among christians in north africa. donatists stressed holiness of church , refused accept authority administer sacraments of had surrendered scriptures when forbidden under emperor diocletian. donatists opposed involvement of emperor constantine in church affairs in contrast majority of christians welcomed official imperial recognition.

the violent controversy has been characterized struggle between opponents , supporters of roman system. articulate north african critic of donatist position, came called heresy, augustine, bishop of hippo regius. augustine maintained unworthiness of minister did not affect validity of sacraments because true minister christ. in sermons , books augustine, considered leading exponent of christian dogma, evolved theory of right of orthodox christian rulers use force against schismatics , heretics. although dispute resolved decision of imperial commission in carthage in 411, donatist communities continued exist late 6th century.

devastation , decline

in summer of 365 ad, massive tsunami struck north africa, causing massive damage , thousands of deaths. cities devastated , coastal farmlands ruined seawater. total crop failure precipitated steep decline in trade. decline in trade weakened roman control. independent kingdoms emerged in mountainous , desert areas, towns overrun, , berbers, had been pushed edges of roman empire, returned. vandals took on in 5th century , stayed hundred years.

belisarius, general of byzantine emperor justinian based in constantinople, landed in north africa in 533 16,000 men , within year destroyed vandal kingdom. many rural areas reverted berber rule , region whole lost byzantine empire during muslim conquests.