In
medieval history,
Ifriqiya or Ifriqiyah ( ) was the
area comprising the coastal regions of what are today western
Libya
, Tunisia
, and eastern
Algeria
. This area included what had been the
Roman province of
Africa.
Ifriqiya
was bounded on the south by the semi-arid areas and salt marshes
called el-Djerid
.
At various
times, the rulers of this area also conquered Sicily and parts of mainland Italy
, and the
western boundary was in continual flux but usually went as far as
Bejaia
. Its capital was Qayrawan
(Kairouan)
in central Tunisia.
Arabic Thought and its Place in History, De Lacy O'Leary,
London: Kegan, Paul [1922], p. 227-8 says: "Gradually the Arabs
spread all along North Africa and down to the desert edge, their
tribes as a rule occupying the lower ground, whilst the older
population had its chief centres in the mountainous districts.
During the invasion of 45 (A.H.) the city of Kairawan was founded
some distance south of Tunis. The site was badly chosen, and is now
marked only by ruins and a scanty village, but for some centuries
it served as the capital city of Ifrikiya, which was the name given
to the province lying next to Egypt, embracing the modern states of
Tripoli, Tunis, and the eastern part of Algeria up to the meridian
of Bougie."
From their base in Qayrawan the
Aghlabids
conquered
Sicily, beginning in 827 and
establishing the
Emirate of
Sicily, which lasted until it was displaced by the Normans,
effecting lasting changes in Sicilian culture.
See also