North Africa describes the strip of land between the Sahara desert and the Mediterranean, stretching from the Moroccan Atlantic coast to Egypt. The Phoenicians developed a large presence in North Africa with colonies between Tripoli and the Atlantic, including the one at Carthage.
Cyrene
Cyrene in northeast Libya was founded in c.630 BC by Dorian Greeks from Thera, led by Aristoteles. Cyrene gave its name to the surrounding territory (modern Cyrenaica), and soon surpassed Thera in wealth and power to become an important early outpost of the Greek world.
Aristoteles became Cyrene’s first king as Battus-I (r.c.630-c.600 BC) and founded the Battiad Dynasty (c.630-c.440 BC). The early kings of Cyrene were alternately called Battus and Arcesilaus. Of Battus’ son Arcesilaus-I (r.c.600-c.683 BC) little is known. Under Battus II (r.c.583-c.560 BC) an oracle delivered at Delphi encouraged people from various parts of Greece to settle in Cyrene. But the influx of new settlers dispossessed many Libyans of their land. War broke out and a native force sent by Apries of Egypt (r.589-570 BC) to help the Libyans was defeated at Irasa in c.570 BC).
Arcesilaus II (r.c.560-c.550 BC) quarrelled so seriously with his brothers that they left Cyrene to found Barca. The dissident brothers persuaded local Libyans to declare war on Arcesilaus, who was defeated in battle and later murdered by his brother Learchus. Following unrest under Battus III (r.c.550-c.530 BC) the king’s power was limited by the constitutional changes set out by Demonax of Mantinea (c.550 BC).
Arcesilaus III (r.c.530-c.515 BC) failed in an attempt to reverse the reforms of Demonax and had to flee abroad. He tried to return by force but was later murdered at Barca. During his time he had submitted to Cambyses II (r.530-522 BC), after the latter’s conquest of Egypt. Arcesilaus’ son Battus IV (r.c.515-c.465 BC) apparently had a peaceful reign and Cyrene became a wealthy town. Battus’ son Arcesilaus IV (r.c.465-c.440 BC) was deposed by a democratic revolution.
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