What I learnt about Libya
Geography: Libya is located in North Africa and is the fourth-largest country on the continent. It covers an area of about 1.8 million square kilometers.The capital city is Tripoli.The estimated population of Libya is around 7.8 million people. The Sahara Desert covers much of Libya, and the country is known for its stunning desert landscapes and ancient rock art sites, such as those in Tadrart Acacus.
- History: Libya has a rich and complex history that spans several millennia
- The indigenous Berber people have lived in Libya for thousands of years.
- Around the 7th century BCE, the Phoenicians established trading posts along the coast. The Greeks later founded the city of Cyrene in the east, which became a major center of learning and culture
- Libya became part of the Roman Empire in the 1st century BCE. Cities like Leptis Magna and Sabratha flourished under Roman rule, leaving behind impressive ruins.
- In the 7th century CE, Arab armies brought Islam to Libya. The region became part of various Islamic caliphates and dynasties over the centuries.
- The Ottomans controlled Libya from the mid-16th century until the early 20th century, although their grip was often tenuous.
- Italy invaded Libya in 1911, and it became an Italian colony.
- uring World War II, Libya was a battleground between Allied and Axis forces. Libya gained independence in 1951, becoming a kingdom under King Idris I.
- Colonel Muammar Gaddafi seized power in a 1969 coup. His rule was marked by authoritarianism, economic reforms, and international controversies until his overthrow in 2011.
- Since Gaddafi’s fall, Libya has experienced significant turmoil, including two civil wars. Efforts to stabilize the country continue, with various factions vying for control.
Economy: Libya has the largest proven oil reserves in Africa, with about 48 billion barrels. Before the discovery of oil in the late 1950s, Libya was considered poor in natural resources. The discovery of petroleum dramatically changed its economic landscape.
What I read for Libya
Summary
From acclaimed novelist and Pulitzer Prize winner Hisham Matar comes a profoundly moving memoir of his journey back to his homeland, Libya, in search of answers to his father’s disappearance. In 2012, following the overthrow of Qaddafi, Matar returns to Libya after thirty years in exile. At twelve, Matar and his family fled political persecution. Eight years later, Matar’s father—a former diplomat and brave political dissident—was kidnapped by the Libyan regime and presumably held in its most notorious prison. With these prisons now emptied, Matar holds onto a slim hope of finding his father alive, demonstrating that hope is “persistent and cunning.” This book captures a family’s heartbreaking quest, the turbulent transformation of a nation, and the disturbing realities of unchecked power.
Thoughts
Libya has such a rich history and I really enjoyed learning about it. I am sure that I have only scratched the surface but still the experience was enriching. I also feel that this book was a very good pick for this challenge as it was a historical memoir. It perfectly captures the pain and struggle of people who lived through the reign of Qaddafi. I also liked his writing style. His prose are eloquent yet succent. He has also written so many other books which has gathered a lot of praise. One of them is ‘The Friends’, which got longlisted for the booker prize for this year. I also plan to read it sometime.
Other books from this country
My Friends
Author: Hisham Matar
Genre: Historical Fiction, Contemporary
Paperback: 399 pages
Audiobook: 13h 24m
Khaled, a boy from Benghazi, becomes enthralled by a mysterious short story he hears on the radio. This fascination leads him far from home to the University of Edinburgh. Immersed in a world unlike Libya, Khaled transforms, especially after a tragic protest in London leaves him injured and exiled. An encounter with the story’s enigmatic author, Hosam Zowa, births a profound friendship that sustains him through exile and revolution. As the Arab Spring unfolds, Khaled grapples with the tension between revolution and safety, family and exile, ultimately redefining his identity.
To Read
In The Country of Men
Author: Hisham Matar
Genre: Historical Fiction, Contemporary
Paperback: 246 pages
Audiobook: 7h 53m
In 1979 Libya, nine-year-old Suleiman navigates the unsettling changes brought by Khadafy’s revolution. His days are filled with childhood rituals, but nights reveal his mother’s dark family tales. One day, seeing his father in a busy marketplace despite being supposedly on a business trip, Suleiman is thrust into a world of fear and confusion. With ominous phone calls, burning books, and sinister strangers, he witnesses the terrifying power of the regime. “In the Country of Men” is a poignant debut, capturing a child’s view of political upheaval and family trauma with literary grace.
To Read
The Arab of the Future
Author: Riad Sattouf
Genre: Graphic Novel, Non-Fiction, Memoir
Paperback: 156 pages
Audiobook: NA
Riad Sattouf vividly recounts his nomadic childhood in rural France, Gaddafi’s Libya, and Assad’s Syria, led by his idealistic Syrian Pan-Arabist father. With a delicate and wide-eyed perspective, Riad navigates a world of stark contrasts, from scarce food and violent games to the constant pursuit of a utopian vision. Amidst these challenges, Riad, often seen as an outsider due to his blond hair and mistaken identity, finds himself at the mercy of his father’s ever-changing grand plans. Sattouf’s graphic storytelling captures the immediacy of childhood and the fervor of political dreams in this striking memoir.
To Read
My Fourth Time, We Drowned
Author: Sally Hayden
Genre: Non-Fiction, Memoir, Politics
Paperback: 512 pages
Audiobook: 13h 58m
In 2018, Sally Hayden received a desperate Facebook message from an Eritrean refugee detained in Libya, igniting her harrowing account of the migrant crisis in North Africa. Trapped in crumbling Tripoli amidst warring factions, refugees cling to hope and reach out to her. Hayden’s narrative unveils the brutality of Libyan guards, rare acts of kindness, the frustrations of aid workers, and the complexities of detainee relationships. Highlighting the failure of international organizations, “My Fourth Time, We Drowned” paints a vivid picture of resilience, love, and small acts of defiance in the face of overwhelming adversity.
To Read
Do you have any other recommendation from this country? Please share it in comments.
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