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Interesting map of the classical region of "Barbaria" by Joannes Blaeu. Published in Amsterdam, this two-part map provides a detailed view of northern Africa during an era of immense change, exploration, and colonial ambition.

The upper segment of the map showcases the entirety of the northern African coastline. It stretches from the west coast of Africa south of Morocco in the west to the powerful Nile River in the east. Notably, regions like Zanhaga and Gualata Regnum are marked. The name Zanhaga probably refers to the Zenaga Berbers, who were native to the region and played pivotal roles in the region's early Islamic history. The Gualata Regnum, on the other hand, is a reference to the ancient African Kingdom of Gualata, a region that was part of the broader Sahelian belt of Africa, known for its trans-Saharan trade and flourishing civilizations.

The bottom half of "Barbaria" zooms in on the regions centered on Algeria and Tunisia. This depiction offers a focused view of the central Maghreb region, an area rich in history, with legacies from the Phoenicians, Romans, Berbers, and Arabs.

Barbaria in the 16th and 17th Centuries

The term "Barbaria" finds its origin in the Greek word "Barbaros," meaning foreign or barbarian, which the Greeks used to describe non-Greek speaking people. In the context of North Africa, "Barbaria" referred to the region inhabited predominantly by the Berbers. The name became synonymous with the North African coast and was widely used in Europe.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, Barbaria or North Africa became a battleground for the contesting European powers, particularly Spain and the Ottoman Empire. The Ottomans, under the leadership of Barbarossa and later his successors, expanded their rule in the Maghreb, establishing their dominance in modern-day Algeria, Tunisia, and parts of Libya.

Apart from the geopolitical skirmishes, the coast of Barbaria was infamous for piracy. The Barbary pirates, as they were known, posed threats to European shipping in the Mediterranean. They were not just pirates but corsairs, often state-sponsored privateers, operating with the backing of local rulers or the Ottoman Empire itself. European captives taken by these pirates often ended up as slaves or were held for ransom.

Simultaneously, the Sahara served as a conduit for extensive trade networks. Gold, salt, and slaves were among the major commodities that passed through trans-Saharan routes, linking sub-Saharan Africa with the North African coast.