Mauritanian History


Figure 1.--The French postcard, dated to early 20th century, depicts a group of Mauritanian riflemen (tirailleurs) with their French offucers. The tirailleurs look to be recrited from the African south of the colony. They are leaving their camp for some escort mission. We can see how in the early times that the African soldiers had no footwear as part of theur uniforms. In the camps the soldiers lived with their families. In the photo we can see three boys, probably sons of the soldiers. One of the boy looks to have a French father.

Archeologists have found evidence of human habitation (5000 BC). These people were African hunter gatheres living on the prevalent grasslands. Climate change began creating a much more arid enviroment (anout 2500 BC). Desiccation gradually forced the original African inhabitants south. In more modern times, North African Berbers who domesticated the camel pressed down from the north. This increased pressure on the African population of the Senegal Valley (3rd and 4th centuries AD). An Islamicized Berber tribe, the Lamtuna, and two other Berber groups joined to control of a thriving caravan trade in gold, slaves, and ivory from the south and desert salt and various goods from the north (9th century), The Almoravids, fervent Muslim Berbers from Mauritania conquered Northwest Africa and then much of Spain (11th century). For time they stopped the Reconquidta in Spain. They both traded ab\nd warred with the Ghanian Empire to the south. The Almoravid empire collapsed (12th century). The Mali Kingdom expanded into areas once dominated by Ghana. It also expanded west into southeastern Mauritania. It was thus able to dominated the caravan routes. Mali was followed by the Songhai of Gao. The Sonhai fell to Moroccan invaders (1591). At about the same time, nomadic Arab tribes of Yemeni origins, the Banu Ma'qil, entered Mauritania (14th and 15th centuries). They gradually established their dominance over the Berbers calling themselves the Awlad-Banu Hassan. Over time, the Arabs and Berbers intermingled into what is now an Arabized Mauritania who look down on Africa and from the south. The Portuguese were the first Europeans to reach Mauritania in modern times. They arrived along the coast as they sailed south (mid-15th century). They did not enter the interior, bur did set up coastal trading posts, attracted by gold and slaves and later gum arabic. The European colonil powers competed for the trade, but only established coastal ports. The issue was not settled until the Congress of Vienna awarded Senegal to France (1815). The French established a protectorate (1903). It became a colony (1920). After World War II it joined the French Community (1958). France granted independence (1960).

Pre-history

Archeologists have found evidence of human habitation (5000 BC). These people were African hunter gatheres living on the prevalent grasslands. Climate change began creating a much more arid enviroment (anout 2500 BC). Desiccation gradually forced the original African inhabitants south.

Ancient Times

In more modern times, North African Berbers who domesticated the camel pressed down from the north. The Berber era began with the decline of the Romn Empire (3rd century AD) This increased pressure on the African population of the Senegal Valley (3rd and 4th centuries AD).

Medieval Islamic Era

Gradually during the medieval era, Islam began to spread through the region and came to be a unifying influence among Mauratani's varied ethnic communities. The Muslim Arabs arrived in the north (8th century) An Islamicized Berber tribe, the Lamtuna, and two other Berber groups joined to control of a thriving caravan trade in gold, slaves, and ivory from the south and desert salt and various goods from the north (9th century), The Almoravids, fervent Muslim Berbers from Mauritania conquered Northwest Africa and then much of Spain (11th century). For time they stopped the Reconquidta in Spain. They both traded and warred with the Ghanian Empire to the south. The Almoravid empire collapsed (12th century). The Mali Kingdom expanded into areas once dominated by Ghana. It also expanded west into southeastern Mauritania. It was thus able to dominated the caravan routes. Mali was followed by the Songhai of Gao. The Sonhai fell to Moroccan invaders (1591). At about the same time, nomadic Arab tribes of Yemeni origins, the Banu Ma'qil, entered Mauritania (14th and 15th centuries). They gradually established their dominance over the Berbers calling themselves the Awlad-Banu Hassan. Over time, the Arabs and Berbers intermingled into what is now an Arabized Mauritania who look down on Africa and from the south.

The Europeans

The Portuguese were the first Europeans to reach Mauritania in modern times. They arrived along the coast as they sailed south (mid-15th century). They did not enter the interior, bur did set up coastal trading posts, attracted by gold and slaves and later gum arabic. The European colonil powers competed for the trade, but only established coastal ports. France emerged as the dominant power. The issue was not settled until the Congress of Vienna awarded Senegal to France (1815). France began to build a new empire after the Napoleonic Wars. Its focus was at first on North and West Africa. France's huge colonia effort in West Africa, included what is now Mauriantia. The French ended the endemic inter-tribal warfare. It also attempted to supress slavery, but here found more difficulty given the strnhth if Islamic support for slavery. Unlike Christian countries, no abolitionist movemebts appered in Muslim countries bd this includes Mauritania. The French made little effort to develop the local economy. The French established a protectorate (1903) and Mauritania became a colony (1920). After World War II the French launched a series of modernizing reforms, not all of which were populr among conservative Islamic elements in the north. Mauritania joined the French Community (1958).

Independence (1960)

France granted independence (1960). Mauritania annexed the southern third of the former Spanish Sahara (Western Sahara) (1976). After 3 years of punishing raids by the Polisario guerrillas, Mauritania decided to relinquish its claims to the teritory. Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed Taya staged a coup (1984). After nearly axdecadeof dictatorial rule, ppposition parties were nominally legalized and a new constitution approved (1991). Two multi-party presidential elections which followed, however, seen as flawed by many observers. Mauritania finally managed to hold genuinely free and open legislative and municipal elections (October 2001). This was, however, followed by a coup headed by Colonel Ely Ould Mohamed Vall (August 2005). While bloodles, President Taya was replaced by a military council headed by Col. Vall. The Council announced it would remain in power for up to 2 years while it 'created conditions' for genuinely democratic and non-corupt institutions and organized elections. Another militry coup, this one led by General Mohamed Aziz overthrew the civilian government (August 2008). Gen. ziz resigned his military post to run for president (April 2009). He won tge elections which followed (July 2009). Throughout all this turmoil, Mauritania onyinuesto be one of Africa's poorest countries. There are reports of rising Islamic militancy and continued scourge of slavery, especiallybun the Arab/Berber north. .








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Created: 5:30 AM 11/15/2015
Last updated: 5:31 AM 11/15/2015