Libya – An African Nation That Possesses The Markings Of Ancient Civilizations

by erin on November 18, 2010

Many people long for the vacation where they can spend hours lounging by the seashore, sipping a fruity cocktail. Other people just want to eat great food, do some great shopping, and just maybe visit a museum or two. Then there are those who long to get to know the culture and the history of a country. These are the people cocktails at the beach just as much as the next person, but the thing they really love is firsthand exploration. Libya is a paradise to this type of people. Ancient archaeological sites are all over the place, as well as other historical spots, places waiting to be explored. In order to travel to Libya or anyplace else, you will need a passport. And if you don’t want to wait, consider learning more about expedited American passport renewal processing.

Going online to handle your passport issues is by far the most convenient and efficient way to get your passports. Using online services, you can get your US passport renewal expedited, meaning it gets delivered by the time you need it.

The history of Libya starts in 8000 BC with a people called the Berbers. It evolved as its history progressed, being owned by one time by the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Greeks, Persian Empire, Romans, Vandals, Arabs, Turks and Byzantines. As you can imagine, this lead to a very colorful history, resulting in a very interesting culture. Cyrene is an ancient colony that belonged to the Greeks. It is one of many in the surrounding area, but it is regarded as the most important. Cyrene even birthed its own branch of philosophy – Cyrenaics. This archaeological site is definitely worth a visit, especially to see the Temple of Apollo, built in the 7th century BC, and the Temples of Demeter and Zeus.

The Acacus Mountains, or Tadrart Acacus, is a mountain range in the Libyan desert. What makes this site significant is its abundance of prehistoric rock art. The art, some made as early as 12,000 BC, shows the daily lives of the people who lived in this region, including the changes in nature and the weather. The art shows everything from animals to humans.

Ghadames is an ancient town that is still inhabited today. Built in an oasis, this city has a history that starts in the first century BC. This town is located in a remote region of the desert, but it still holds people because of this oasis. The houses were specially built to protect against the heat, as they are made of mud, lime, and palm tree trunks. The people that live there today, only 7,000 or so, are Tuareg Berbers.

Sabratha is another ancient archaeological site. It was built in 500 BC as a Phoenician trading post. The Phoenicians were a mighty warrior people, and their three-story tall buildings are evidence of their accomplishments. There are temples dedicated to various gods, as well as mosaics all around the site.

As you can see, Libya is an archaeologist’s, historian’s, and anthropologist’s dream. Even if you’ve never been particularly interested in these subjects just being around these ancient sites will give you a new perspective on the people of our world. Start your adventure by visiting an online passport office, like US Passport Now.

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