| Title | History of North Africa: Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, from the Arab Conquest to 1830 |
| Author(s) | Charles-André Julien |
| Editor(s) | Roger Le Tourneau (reviser), C. C. Stewart (editor) |
| Translator | John Petrie |
| Publisher | Routledge & Kegan Paul |
| Year | 1970 |
| Language | English |
| Pages | 446 |
| ISBN | 9780710066145 |
| Genre | History, African History, Islamic Studies |
| Size | 10 MB |
| Extension |
Summary
History of North Africa: Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, from the Arab Conquest to 1830 is the English translation of the second volume of Charles-André Julien's monumental Histoire de l'Afrique du Nord, a work that has served as the standard reference on the subject for decades. Published in 1970 by Routledge & Kegan Paul, this edition was edited and revised by Roger Le Tourneau, a distinguished orientalist and professor at the University of Algiers, and translated by John Petrie. For English-speaking scholars of Middle Eastern, West African, and North African history, the appearance of this translation was a significant event, opening access to one of the most reliable and eloquent syntheses of Islamic North African history ever written[citation:1].
The book covers a pivotal era in the history of the Maghrib, spanning from the Arab conquest in the seventh century to the eve of French colonization in 1830. Julien organizes his narrative chronologically, beginning with the Arab conquest and the Kharijite kingdoms, then moving through the Arab and Berber dynasties of the ninth to eleventh centuries, before examining the great Berber empires of the Almoravids and Almohads in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries[citation:2]. The final chapters address the Sharifian Empire in Morocco from 1553 to 1830 and Turkish rule in Algeria and Tunisia from 1516 to 1830. Throughout, Julien emphasizes the process of Islamization, arguing that the challenges faced by North Africa cannot be fully understood without considering this crucial element of its history.
What distinguishes this work from other histories of the region is Julien's deliberate reliance on Muslim sources and his insistence on presenting the North African past from an Islamic perspective. The first four chapters draw heavily from Arab writers, offering a chronological account that gives due weight to the region's own historical traditions. Roger Le Tourneau's revisions for the second French edition, which form the basis of this translation, added an essential bibliographic guide and ensured the work reflected the latest scholarship of the mid-twentieth century[citation:1]. A glossary is included to clarify Arabic terms and their usage in Maghrib Islam, making the text accessible to readers without specialized linguistic knowledge.
This book is designed for a scholarly audience: graduate students and advanced undergraduates in history, Islamic studies, and African studies, as well as professional historians seeking a reliable synthesis of North African history. The narrative assumes some familiarity with the broad outlines of Islamic history, but Julien's clear prose and logical organization make the material accessible to serious general readers as well. The inclusion of maps and plans enhances the geographical understanding of the dynasties and territories discussed. For anyone seeking a comprehensive, authoritative account of the Maghrib during the Islamic period, this translation remains an indispensable resource.
The enduring reputation of Julien's History of North Africa rests on its combination of rigorous scholarship and literary quality. Reviewers have noted that the work possesses "a certain eloquence of style not usually associated with such general works of synthesis"[citation:1]. Roger Le Tourneau's editorial contribution ensured that the revised edition maintained the highest standards of accuracy, and his own expertise in North African history added depth to the bibliographic apparatus. More than half a century after its original French publication, this English translation continues to be cited in academic literature and held by university libraries worldwide, confirming its status as a foundational text in the field.
Key Features
- Provides the first comprehensive English translation of Julien's classic French history of the Maghrib.
- Covers the Islamic period in North Africa from the Arab conquest to 1830 in a single volume.
- Draws extensively on Arab and Muslim sources, presenting North African history from an indigenous perspective.
- Includes chapters on the Almoravid and Almohad Berber empires that shaped medieval North Africa.
- Features a substantial bibliographic guide compiled by Roger Le Tourneau for further research.
- Contains a glossary of Arabic terms used in the text to aid non-specialist readers.
- Includes maps and plans illustrating the geography of the dynasties and territories discussed.
- Edited and revised by Roger Le Tourneau, a leading orientalist and professor at the University of Algiers.
- Translated by John Petrie and edited by C. C. Stewart for English-speaking scholars.
- Traces the process of Islamization and its role in shaping North African identity.
- Examines the Sharifian Empire in Morocco and Turkish rule in Algeria and Tunisia.
- Remains a standard reference work cited in academic literature on the Maghrib.
About the Author
Charles-André Julien (1891-1991) was a French historian, journalist, and orientalist who specialized in the history of the Maghreb and the French colonial empire[citation:17]. Born in Caen on September 2, 1891, he moved with his family to Algeria at the age of fifteen, where he developed a lifelong interest in the region's history and culture[citation:8]. He was an agrégé d'histoire and docteur d'état, and taught at the Institut d'études politiques de Paris, the ENA, and the Faculté des lettres de Paris. He was instrumental in founding the Faculty of Letters at Rabat in Morocco, and served as its dean from 1957 to 1961[citation:3][citation:13]. Julien was also a committed anticolonialist, serving as secretary-general of the Haut Comité méditerranéen et de l'Afrique du Nord in Léon Blum's government in 1936, and later as a member of the Council of the French Union from 1946 to 1958[citation:8].
Roger Le Tourneau (1907-1971) was a French orientalist and professor who edited and revised the second French edition of Julien's work, which forms the basis of this English translation[citation:1]. Born in Paris on September 2, 1907, he was a professor at the University of Algiers from 1948 to 1957 and later at the Faculty of Letters in Aix-en-Provence[citation:4][citation:18]. He founded and directed the Centre de recherches sur l'Afrique méditerranéenne and was the founder of the Revue de l'Occident musulman et de la Méditerranée[citation:4]. Le Tourneau's own research focused on the history of the Maghrib, particularly Fès and Damascus, and his revisions to Julien's text ensured that the work reflected the best scholarship of its time[citation:18].
Related Books
- Histoire de l'Afrique du Nord : Des origines à 1830 — Charles-André Julien
- Histoire contemporaine de l'Algérie, 1827-1871 — Charles-André Julien
- Le Maroc face aux impérialismes (1415-1956) — Charles-André Julien
- Histoire du Maroc moderne — Roger Le Tourneau
- The Almohad Revolution: History and Memory of an Islamic Empire — Maribel Fierro
- The Berber Kingdoms of North Africa — Collectif
- Islamic North Africa: A History — Collectif
Ads
FAQ
Q : What period does History of North Africa cover?
R : This volume covers the Islamic period in North African history, from the Arab conquest in the seventh century to 1830, when French colonization began. It examines the Kharijite kingdoms, the Arab and Berber dynasties, the Almoravid and Almohad empires, the Sharifian Empire in Morocco, and Turkish rule in Algeria and Tunisia[citation:2]. It does not cover the pre-Islamic period or the colonial and modern eras, which are addressed in other volumes of Julien's original work.
Q : Who was Charles-André Julien?
R : Charles-André Julien (1891-1991) was a French historian and journalist specializing in North African history. He was an anticolonialist who served in Léon Blum's government and taught at the Sorbonne and the Institut d'études politiques de Paris. He founded the Faculty of Letters at Rabat and his Histoire de l'Afrique du Nord became the standard reference on the subject for decades[citation:3][citation:8][citation:13].
Q : What is the role of Roger Le Tourneau in this edition?
R : Roger Le Tourneau (1907-1971) was a French orientalist and professor at the University of Algiers who prepared the second, revised French edition of Julien's work. This English translation is based on Le Tourneau's revised edition, which added an essential bibliographic guide and updated the text with the latest scholarship of the mid-twentieth century[citation:1][citation:4].
Q : Is this book suitable for students?
R : Yes, this translation was specifically produced to meet the needs of English-speaking historians and students. It is widely held by university libraries and serves as a standard reference for courses on North African, Middle Eastern, and Islamic history[citation:1]. The bibliographic guide and glossary make it accessible to advanced undergraduates and graduate students.
Q : What makes this history different from others on North Africa?
R : Julien's work is distinguished by its reliance on Muslim and Arab sources, presenting North African history from an Islamic perspective. The first four chapters draw heavily from Arab writers, offering a chronological account that gives due weight to the region's own historical traditions[citation:1]. The work also emphasizes the process of Islamization as fundamental to understanding the region's social and political identity.
Q : Does the book include maps and illustrations?
R : Yes, the volume includes maps and plans that illustrate the geography of the dynasties and territories discussed. The physical description of the 1970 edition notes "maps, plans" as part of the 446-page volume[citation:2]. These visual aids help readers understand the spatial dimensions of the historical narrative.
Q : Where can I find this book?
R : The book is held by university libraries worldwide, including the University of Chicago, the University of Pennsylvania, and SOAS University of London[citation:7][citation:10][citation:15]. It can be borrowed through interlibrary loan or purchased from academic booksellers. The ISBN is 9780710066145. A PDF version is also available via the download link provided on this page.
Q : What dynasties are covered in the book?
R : The book covers the Kharijite kingdoms, the Arab and Berber dynasties of the ninth to eleventh centuries, the Almoravid and Almohad Berber empires, the return to Berber kingdoms, the Sharifian Empire in Morocco (1553-1830), and Turkish rule in Algeria and Tunisia (1516-1830)[citation:2]. This comprehensive chronological scope allows readers to trace the political evolution of the Maghrib across a millennium.
Enregistrer un commentaire
Thanks for comment