The Roman History of Algeria

The Roman occupation of North Africa, from Carthage, was made by three main areas:

- The first follows the coast of Tunisia from north to south, then headed east and passes through Libya.
- The second, from east to west, along the line of the interior plateau, clearly behind the coastal mountains.
- Third, diagonally northeast and southwest, is the pathway to the southern border and to the Aures by Ammaedara (Haïdra, Tunisia), Thevesti (Tebessa) Thamugadi (Timgad), and finally Lambaesis (Lambèse).

Three of these cities were the foundations of the Roman legion, which occupied Ammaedara during the reign of Augustus. In the year 75, she moved to Thevesti in 81 Lambaesis, which later became its permanent headquarters before being the capital of Numidia.

Numidia is not a coastal province like Ifriqia with Carthage and Mauretania with cesarea but an inland province, facing the desert, eager to defend African provinces against the dangers that come from the south.

Numidia is a military zone, the command is installed Lambèse she deviendera independent province in the Proconsulaire 198 From 126, the pathways will help advance by the tracks of the South, but it tapers north: Hippo Regius (Hippo) is Proconsullaire, Igilgili (Jijel) in Mauretania Setif.

The coast of Numidia has two ports: Rusicade (Skikda) and Chullu (Collo). The rest of Algeria as Caesarean Mauretania. Mauretania was ruled from Caesarea (Cherchell). Its southernmost border, away from the mountains and high plains Hondna of Oran, she gets little more than 100 km from the sea.

Beyond this coastal strip, the Numidian people continue to follow their way of life and fighting against the Roman occupation. Roman cities in Numidia and Mauretania were erected on Roman cities in Numidia, some of which experienced a boom and enjoyed great reputation in these countries anciennces. Hippo Cuicul Tiddis, Thevesli, Madouros, Tipaza, Siga, Ténès and probably the most important Roman cities were seated as the Numidian cities themselves, based along the coast, on the site of the Phoenician.

The most important ruins of Roman cities are located east of the Caesarian Mauretania, in the Aures and north of Numidia. If the settlement was made in the time of Phoenician and Numidian Kingdoms is urbanization which will form the basis of the Roman empire.

The number and the monumental splendor of Roman cities revealed by the imposing ruins of Timgad Lambèse, Djémila-Cuicul Tiddis, Tipaza reflect the role played by African Cities.

Worldwide, only two cities remain intact and reflect the urban perfection of Roman cities Pompeii, Italy, buried and saved by the ashes of Vesuvius and Timgad in Algeria, buried and saved by the desert sand.

The methodical plan of Timgad, the regular grid, seeks to introduce everywhere on the rump of the Numidian city Cuicul-Djémila on the slope of Tiddis, above the wayward course of the Punic city of Hippo numide Royal.

The two main streets intersect at right angles. Other parallel to them. Near the central crossroads, the Forum is a closed space, isolated, inaccessible to voitires, surrounds a portico flanked by a judicial basilica. Instead, adorned with statues, is the political center.

The theater is often close. A Timgad, the whole city seems implanted according to the hill, where it was possible to dig the "cavea". The amphitheater, circus, are often located in remote areas or in the suburbs. In paved and bordered by porticos streets, temples, markets, baths are encountered.

Secondary places can create new architectural whole. Stand at the crossroads of monumental fountains or nymphs fed by aqueducts that cross the mountains through tunnels, crossing the valleys by arches, cause far a pure and plentiful water.

Visiting the Museum of Timgad, one is struck by the splendor of the mosaics, geometric patterns and foliage bloom in foliage of a delicacy and exuberance unknown. Each city had its designers and mosaic artists.

The difference in style between these schools highlights the vitality of local workshops. No pavement in the whole Roman world, can not be compared to the mosaic of the harvest. No analogy, either, to the mosaic of Hippo hunt.

It can be concluded that the Romans were not imported into Africa decrees models or fixed forms. They let the Africans work in their own way establish their city according to their own genius, distribute at their discretion monuments which they adapted forms, depending on terrain, according to their convenience, according to their taste.

Numidia, by their creative genius, perpetuated the work of their ancient kings. The prosperity of the Roman city is due to agriculture. One can list a long industrial activities developed at that time, but it is the soil that sustains Africa. Hunting remains a very primitive industry. Specialists taquent lions and panthers for the circus games.

Livestock develops, pastors raise sheep of Western type. Numidian horses, beards, young and strong, remain popular and are used for residual cavalry. At that time, Algeria is mainly a country of culture. "This is the granary of Rome."

The planting of vines and olive trees grow. Millstones to the presses, we arrive to huge plants such as Tébessa-Khallia, whose ruins attest to the intensive nature of the crop. During this period, Algeria producing and exporting grain, oil, wine, marble quarries, the beasts of the forests.



Saint Augustine

Saint Augustine, born in Thagaste (Souk Ahras), 354-430, is the most famous of the Fathers of the Latin Church and the greatest mind of the early centuries of Christianity in the West.

Bishop of Hippo from 396, he died in the city besieged by the Vandals. The influence of St. Augustine, is probably the one that scored the theology of all time because his work has something universal.

All his thoughts are centered on two main issues: Dioeu and destiny of man. But there are also those men who never ceased to fight against cultural domination economic, and religious Romans and left their names etched in history.

firmus

Firmus, Berber prince died in 375 son of King Nubel he stood up against the oppressions of the Roman governors; in 372 he raised the tribes Djurdjuran against Rome and was proclaimed king. He took Cherchell, but failed to Tipaza.

However, he resisted the Romans another three years. Persecuted in the regions of the Atlas, Firmus hanged himself in order not to fall into the hands of the Romans. Donat, Optatus and other Christian bishops formulated, too, claims that exceeded the strictly religious sphere.