History of North Africa

The history of North Africa is typically divided into its prehistory, the classical period, the arrival and spread of Islam, the colonial era, and finally the post-independence period, in which the current nations were formed. The region has been influenced by a wide range of cultures. The development of sea travel firmly firmly integrated North Africa into the Mediterranean world, especially during the classical period. In the 1st millennium AD, the Sahara became a major trade zone as camel caravans brought goods and people from sub-Saharan Africa. The region also has a small but strategic land connection to the Middle East, which has also played a key role in its history.^{[citation needed]}