Editing Africa (section)

==== Northwest Africa ====

Northwest Africa included the Maghreb, the Atlas Mountains, the Mediterranean coast, and Saharan trade routes. Berber-speaking communities formed a major part of the region's population. Phoenician and later Carthaginian settlements connected the coast to Mediterranean commerce.

Carthage became a major political and maritime power before its defeat by Rome. Under Roman rule, North Africa became an important agricultural and urban region. Cities, roads, ports, villas, and administrative centers developed across the region. Christianity spread widely in Roman North Africa, producing important figures and institutions.

After the decline of Roman authority, the region experienced Vandal, Byzantine, and local rule before the Arab-Islamic expansion of the 7th century. These changes reshaped language, religion, law, trade, and political organization.