| The Sahara is considered as the largest hot desert in | | | | the complexity and expression of various levels of the |
| the world. It is also the second biggest desert in the | | | | society's authority at that time formed their structure's |
| world - next only to the icy desert of Antarctica. The | | | | basis for both Nabta's Neolithic Society and Egypt's |
| Sahara sustained several civilizations that thrived in its | | | | Old Kingdom. |
| arid environment. Up to now, amidst its vast, dry and | | | | Later on, the Phoenicians or Phoenicia's residents who |
| hot façade, it is very popular, especially in the | | | | were around between 1200 up to 800 BC made a |
| field of research. | | | | so-called "Confederation of Kingdoms" all over the |
| The Sahara is considered as the biggest hot desert in | | | | Sahara and even up to Egypt. Generally, they settled |
| the world. It is also the second biggest desert in the | | | | within the regarded Mediterranean coast and the |
| world, following Antarctica. With an area of more than | | | | Sahara, This is also amongst the Ancient Libyan |
| 9,000,000 sq km, it is estimated as able to cover a | | | | people, who were noted as the Sahara and North |
| majority of the northern part of Africa. This would | | | | Africa's Berber Language ancestors. This is also along |
| include some areas that stretch from the infamous | | | | with Central Sahara's Tuareg community. Other |
| Red Sea, portions of the vast Mediterranean coasts, | | | | adaptations of North Africa's ancient Libyans were the |
| and the Atlantic Ocean's beautiful outskirts. The | | | | recorded Phoenician alphabet and the Tifinagh, which is |
| Sahara is said to be similar to the size of continental | | | | still being used these days by Central Sahara's |
| US and very much larger as compared to Australia. | | | | "Tuareg camel herders" that still speak the Berber |
| Moreover, when it comes to the history of the Sahara, | | | | language. |
| it is as intermittent as it is three million years ago. With | | | | Then, around 633 BC up to 530 BC, the renowned |
| regards to its name, Sahara is an Arabic word for | | | | "Hanno the Navigator" was noted to have either |
| "Sahra'" which means "desert". This means that calling | | | | reinforced or established the Western Sahara's |
| it "Sahara Desert" is being redundant. | | | | Phoenician colonies. However, all the ancient remains |
| Hence, the history of the Sahara is as interesting as it | | | | somehow vanished without any recorded trace |
| sounds. Around 6000 BC, some pre-dynastic | | | | whatsoever. |
| Egyptians who were in Egypt's southwestern corner | | | | Thus, around 500 BC, the Greek influence arrived. This |
| were herding some cattle and were constructing | | | | is with the spread of Greek traders along the desert's |
| some large buildings. At this time, the subsistence in | | | | eastern coast and consequently establishing their |
| permanent and organized settlements predominantly | | | | trading colonies within the coast of the Red Sea. It is |
| centered on animal agriculture and cereal. Animal | | | | indicated that the Carthaginians were the ones who |
| agriculture would include goats, cattle, sheep and pigs. | | | | explored the Sahara's Atlantic coast. However, with a |
| Metal objects are already replacing stone objects. | | | | lack for markets and disturbing water turbulences, no |
| Weaving, pottery and Tanning of certain animal skins | | | | extensive presence thrived farther than the modern |
| were also common at this time. Reports also indicate | | | | Morocco we see now. Then again, there were already |
| that the Al Fayyum's temporary or seasonal | | | | indicated centralized states that surrounded the |
| occupation pertaining to food gathering, hunting and | | | | Sahara through its northern and eastern portions but |
| fishing were practiced. | | | | they remained beyond the states' control. For those |
| Furthermore, the pre-dynastic Egyptians had scrapers, | | | | living by the desert's edge, their constant concern at |
| knives and arrowheads already. Their burial items | | | | that time were raids made by the nomadic Berber |
| included jewelry, pottery, hunting and farming | | | | natives. |
| equipment, along with assorted foods like fruit and | | | | Thus, after the Phoenicians, another urban civilization |
| dried meat. Their dead were buried in such a manner | | | | known as he Garamantes arose in the Sahara's |
| that they faced due west. | | | | central area. This is along a valley they currently call |
| Around 3400 BC, the Sahara is noted to be dry as | | | | Wadi al-Ajal situated in Libya's Fazzan region. The |
| compared to its situation today. Due to this, it was very | | | | Garamantes was noted to achieve a stronger kind of |
| much impenetrable to the earlier Egyptians or to any | | | | development via digging some tunnels farther into the |
| human being for that matter. The only settlements | | | | region's mountains. This is in order to flank the valley |
| were found scattered along its oasis. Even so, only | | | | and tap some fossil water they can bring to the fields |
| little commerce and trade was present throughout this | | | | they made. As the Garamantes became populous and |
| desert. The only exception for this would be along the | | | | strong, they even conquered their neighbors and |
| Nile Valley. However, there are several cataracts of | | | | captured several slaves. These slaves were the ones |
| this river that was impassable. This is why trade as | | | | who worked on extending their tunnels. |
| well as boat contact was very difficult. | | | | This is one reason why the early Romans and Greek |
| Thus, by the Neolithic era, prior to the desertification | | | | regarded the Garamantes as "uncivilized nomads". |
| onset, the central portion of the famous Sahara had a | | | | Even so, they continued their trade with the |
| rich environment that supported a huge population that | | | | Garamantes. In fact, along Garama's Galamantes |
| ranged across the barren desert that it is now. A good | | | | capital, a Roman type of bath was discovered by |
| example is what they called Wadi el-Qa'ab. | | | | Archaeologists. Aside from this, eight major towns as |
| Around the fifth millennium BC, people inhabiting the | | | | well as various other significant settlements were |
| area called Nubia now were already full participants of | | | | found along the regarded Garamantes territory. As per |
| the so-called "agricultural revolution". They lived and | | | | reports, the civilization of the Garamantes eventually |
| settled with a lifestyle that domesticated animals and | | | | collapsed due to the fact that they already depleted all |
| grew plants. Hey were called the early Nubians. | | | | the available water within the so-called aquifers. With |
| Saharan herdsmen and cattle rock art that were | | | | this, they could not sustain the task of extending their |
| found earlier in the famous Sahara suggested that | | | | tunnels in order to go further and deeper into their |
| there were cattle cult, similar to the ones found in | | | | mountains. |
| Sudan, were prevalent at that time. This is also like the | | | | This is how the Sahara sustained several civilizations |
| current pastoral societies of Africa. With regards to | | | | that thrived in its arid environment. Up to now, amidst |
| the megaliths that were found in Nabta Playa, they | | | | its vast, dry and hot façade, it is very popular, |
| were considered as overt examples of the first | | | | especially in the field of research, where in, it is |
| recognized Archaeoastronomy devices in the world. | | | | believed that valuable ancient artifacts, relics and even |
| This predated the Stonehenge by a few thousand | | | | fossils of the ancient civilizations is hidden there, |
| years. Thus, as per noted observations in Nabta Playa, | | | | somewhere. |