Libya

Location

Quick Facts

The Caracal - A medium-sized wild cat native to Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, and India. It is characterized by a robust build, long legs, a short face, long tufted ears, and long canine teeth. It is also known to be incredibly violent...petting is not recommended.

Brief History

Libya

Animals Commonly Found in Libya

• The official language is Arabic.
• Tripoli is the capital city and the largest city of Libya.
• Libya’s terrain is mostly barren, and features flat to undulating plains, plateaus and depressions. Several highlands dot the landscape, but there are almost no true mountain ranges, except for the
• Tibesti Massif along its border with Chad.

Camel - These hardy animals have proved vital to the survival of humans in these areas as they are not just used for transporting both people and goods, but also provide a good source of milk, meat and wool. They have perfectly adapted to their desert homes as evidenced by the fact that they can survive without water for several months if needed.

• The coast of Libya was a popular area for many of the great civilizations that grew up around the Mediterranean Sea.
• The first to arrive and build settlements were the Phoenicians and later the Carthaginians. Soon the Greeks and Romans moved in and conquered areas.
• Great cities were built during these times, but about all that is left of these cultures are the ruins they left.

History Cont...

• On December 24, 1951 Libya declared independence.
• King Idris was the first King of Libya under the new government and constitutional monarchy.
• In 1959 Libya discovered large oil reserves. These reserves made the country very wealthy. However, the people were unhappy that all the wealth was going to an elite few people.
• In 1969 Mu'ammar Qadhafi led a rebellion and took over the government. Despite holding no official title in the Libyan government Qadhafi ruled Libya as supreme dictator until 2011 when he died.

• In the 7th century AD, the Arabs conquered Libya. Most of the local people were converted to Islam and learned the Arabic language and culture.
• In the middle of the 16th century the Ottoman Turks invaded and Libya became part of the Ottoman Empire.
• They would stay in power until Italy invaded in 1911 and Libya became an Italian colony.
• It was in 1934 that the name Libya was given to the Italian colony. Prior to that, Libya was what the Greeks had called all of North Africa besides Egypt.

Landmark - Oasis of Ubari

• When we think of the Sahara Desert, we automatically think of huge amounts of sand, but the desert can sometimes surprise us. Located in the middle of the Desert, the beautiful Ubari oasis looks almost unreal and misplaced.
• Ubari can be found in the Targa Valley, between the Messak Sattafat plateau and Idhan Ubari sand dunes that are over more than 100 000 year-old. The place includes about twenty small salt lakes.

Social Customs

• It is important for Libyans to maintain the dignity, honour and a good reputation of their families through their own conduct. This is a collective culture. In order to maintain a sense of harmony, people will act with decorum at all times and not do not do anything to cause someone else public embarrassment. Personal feelings and needs are often subjugated for the good of the group.
• The most common greeting is "Asalaamu alaikum" ("Peace be with you") to which one would respond with “wa alaikum salam” (“and Peace be with you”).
• Always leave a small bit of food on your plate when you have finished to show that your host has showered you with generosity and abundance.

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