The history of Libya is divided under five broad periods: Ancient period, Islamic period, Ottoman period, Italian period, and the modern age. The history of Libya bears mark of all the ages.
Ancient Period in Libya:
In the ancient period Libya was ruled by a number of tribes, including Phoenicians and Carthaginians, Alexander the Great and later, his Ptolemaic successors, Romans and Vandals. Among them the Romans were the most dominant. Tripoli and Cyrenaica existed as separate kingdoms within Libya. The latter was under the rule of Greeks. Much later it came under the roman sway and came to be known as Pentapolis.
Islamic Period in Libya:
The Islamic period was the longest one in the history of Libya. The invasion of western Libya by Abdu'llah ibn Sa'ad in 647 AD marked the onset of the Islamic period in Libya. Abdu'llah ibn Sa'ad was the foster brother of Caliph Uthman ibn Affan. Both Tripoli and Sufetula were taken over by the Arabs. The rule of the Arabs continued for more than a century. Libya saw a period of rampant conversion in this long tenure. The Ummayad caliph was overthrown by descendents of the Abbasid dynasty in the year 750 AD. With this, Libya saw its formal takeover by the Aghlabid emirs.
Ottoman Period in Libya:
The Ottoman period in Libya continued from the 15th century AD to the early nineteenth century. Tripoli was captured by Hapsburg Spain in 1510. Again in the year 1538, Tripoli was recaptured by Khair ad-Din. He was better known as Barbarossa. The ottoman period in Libya was marked by political instability and turmoil, till 1711. In that year, Libya was conquered by an Ottoman cavalry officer, Ahmed Karamanli. The Karamanli dynasty ruled Libya for 124 long years. There were as many as 33 governors in Libya within a period of 75 years. The Ottoman rule continued till the Italian invasion took place in 1911, marking the death knell for the Ottoman Empire.
Italian Period in Libya:
The Italians took over Libya with the colonization of the provinces of Tripolitania and Cyrenaica. Italians continued to rule Tripoli till 1914. During this period, a large number of Italians immigrated to Libya. A number of struggles took place after this, including the sinister implications of World War I. In the year 1920, Emir of Cyrenaica became the king of independent Libya.
Modern Age in Libya:
Libya gained its independence after the passing of a formal resolution by UN General Assembly in the year 1949. On December 24, 1951, Libya declared its independence. Libya is the first country in the world to attain independence through the co-operation of the UN. Libya today stands as one of the highest oil producing nations of the world.
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