The first contacts between Algeria and Asians/Europeans did
not occur until around the 16th century. In Algeria, Arabic tribes
and dynasties had changed over time until the Berber dynasty was overrun
leaving the north coastal strip of Africa up for grabs. The first two countries
to make their move on this land were the Spanish to the west and the Turkish to
the east.
The Spanish-Turkish rivalry that would last for the majority
of the 16th century but due to their relentless spirit, the Turks
eventually would inherit this land. This battle was won in a very odd manor
through the use of Turkish pirates. These pirates would land on the coast,
seize territories, and the turn them over to the Ottoman Empire. The first pirate to establish himself on the coast
of Algeria occurred in 1512.
European powers made many different attempts to remove the
pirates, even including naval expeditions by Holy Roman emperor Charles V in
1541. Other attempts to remove the pirates were mounted by the British, Dutch,
and Americans in the early 19th century yet all of these efforts proved
to be futile.
The seizure of Algeria by the Turkish pirates would not last
forever, as the French would decide to intervene in Algeria during the year of
1830. It was not until the year 1847 that the conquest of Algeria would be
completed by the French. The French
would then convert the territory into an administrative and military
headquarters for their affairs in North and West Africa.
The struggle for power in Algeria affected the development
of both Algeria and France and Spain due to the many battles that were fought
shaping the nation. If the French had never obtained power in Algeria, they
would never have acknowledged Algeria as an independent nation. This occurred
in the year 1962, ending the dispute over the North African territory.
“Algiers,” Encyclopedia Britannica, accessed June 12, 2015, http://www.britannica.com/place/Algiers
“History of North Africa,” History World, accessed June 12,
2015 http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?gtrack=pthc&ParagraphID=edl#edl
Pictures:
Barbary Pirates, Accessed June 12, 2015, http://i-cias.com/e.o/slides/barbary_pirates03.jpg
Barbary Pirates, Accessed June 12, 2015, http://i-cias.com/e.o/barbary_pirates.htm
The Barbary Wars present an interesting dynamic in both the external influence of foreigners in Algeria, and how those influences impacted domestic decisions made here at home. With American bookending the second battle for independence, also known as the War of 1812, with conflicts in 1805 and again in 1815 across north Africa, it’s safe to say we also played a small part in that external contact. The French influence on Algerian culture and history is long and deep rooted. Language legacies, architecture and artistic fingerprints showcase the strong European influences. Likewise, the diversity of culture and nomadic influences of the Asian explorers from Turkey and beyond are visible in nearly every city.
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