Unit 1: Ancient Civilizations
Sequence II: Read and consider
No country in North Africa has as much access to the Mediterranean and the
Sahara as Algeria. That made it open to many ancient civilizations which made of
it one of the richest countries in terms of heritage sites as Tipaza, Djemila,
Tassilin’Ajjer, Timgad, the M’zab Valley, and the Qalaa of Banu Hammad. 1 £
First, the Tassilin’Ajjer has the most prestige. It has more rock paintings and
engravings than any other prehistoric Saharan sites and it contains the most
remains of the prehistoric civilizations. They brought as much information as we
need to know that the Algerian Sahara was one of the cradles of civilization. It had
as few exchanges with the Phoenician and the Roman civilizations as the other
Saharan sites. That’s why it contains the fewest traces of these ancient
civilizations. 2 £
In the North of Algeria, the Casbah of Algiers undoubtedly holds the most
important position among the historic sites. There is little knowledge about its
earliest times, when it was founded by the Phoenicians as one of their trading
posts. It was known to the Carthaginians and the Romans as Icosium. Emir
Bulughin had rebuilt the town into an important trading port called Al-Jaza’ir until
then, Algiers had less influence on international commerce than the other Algerian
maritime cities because it had fewer harbors. Therefore, despite the fact that it was
considered a trading post by both Phoenicians and Romans, only the least amount
of merchandise transited through it. 3 £
After the Turkish Baba Aruj brothers had gained control of the city in 1516,
Algiers thrived as a relatively independent city under the nominal control of the
Ottoman Empire. This was reflected on its architecture by building mosques,
palaces similar to those in Asia Minor and erecting the famous white-washed
military fortification known as the Casbah the heart of the city of Algiers. 4 £
Adapted from Africana: The Encyclopedia of African and African American
Unit 1: Ancient Civilizations
Sequence II: Read and consider
No country in North Africa has as much access to the Mediterranean and the
Sahara as Algeria. That made it open to many ancient civilizations which made of it
one of the richest countries in terms of heritage sites as Tipaza, Djemila,
Tassilin’Ajjer, Timgad, the M’zab Valley, and the Qalaa of Banu Hammad. 1 £
First, the Tassilin’Ajjer has the most prestige. It has more rock paintings and
engravings than any other prehistoric Saharan sites and it contains the most remains
of the prehistoric civilizations. They brought as much information as we need to
know that the Algerian Sahara was one of the cradles of civilization. It had as few
exchanges with the Phoenician and the Roman civilizations as the other Saharan
sites. That’s why it contains the fewest traces of these ancient civilizations. 2 £
In the North of Algeria, the Casbah of Algiers undoubtedly holds the most
important position among the historic sites. There is little knowledge about its
earliest times, when it was founded by the Phoenicians as one of their trading posts.
It was known to the Carthaginians and the Romans as Icosium. Emir Bulughin had
rebuilt the town into an important trading port called Al-Jaza’ir until then, Algiers
had less influence on international commerce than the other Algerian maritime
cities because it had fewer harbors. Therefore, despite the fact that it was
considered a trading post by both Phoenicians and Romans, only the least amount
of merchandise transited through it. 3 £
After the Turkish Baba Aruj brothers had gained control of the city in 1516,
Algiers thrived as a relatively independent city under the nominal control of the
Ottoman Empire. This was reflected on its architecture by building mosques,
palaces similar to those in Asia Minor and erecting the famous white-washed
military fortification known as the Casbah the heart of the city of Algiers. 4 £
Adapted from Africana: The Encyclopedia of African and African American
 Read the text and do the following questions Read the text and do the following questions
1- Choose the correct answer : 1- Choose the correct answer :
- The text is : A survey An article an advert - The text is : A survey An article an advert
- The text is: A. a scientific text B. political text b-The text is: A. a scientific text B. political text
C. Historical text C. Historical text
Idea Paragraph 2- M 2- Match each idea with its corresponding paragraph.
a- The Ottoman heritage in Algiers.
e- §1 a
t 3- Read the text below and say whether these statements are true or false:
b-
f- The history and historic significance of Casbah in Algiers. §2
c
1. Algeria has little access to the Mediterranean sea and to the Sahara. …………
c- Algeria is the richest North African country in prehistoric
g- §3 h
2. The Tassili n’Ajjer contains many traces of the Phoenician and the Roman
heritage. §4
civilizations. …………..
d- The Tassili N’Ajjer is the most prestigious prehistoric Sahara
h-
3. So much merchandise was transited through Algiers during the Phoenician and
n site
the Roman periods. ........
each idea with its corresponding paragraph.
4-Answer the following questions from the text :
3- Read the text below and say whether these statements are true or false: A. What is the historical effect of the Algerian access to the Mediterranean and
1- Algeria has little access to the Mediterranean sea and to the Sahara. ………… the Sahara?
2- The Tassili n’Ajjer contains many traces of the Phoenician and the Roman B. Why did Algiers have less influence on international commerce as compared
civilizations. ………….. with other maritime cities?
3- So much merchandise was transited through Algiers during the Phoenician and C. Did the Ottomans leave their traces on the city of Algiers? Justify.
the Roman periods. ........ ?Who or what do the underlined words in the text refer to -5
4-Answer the following questions from the text :
..…………= It (1£) =……… Its(2£) =………… Those (4£)
A. What is the historical effect of the Algerian access to the Mediterranean and the
Sahara?
B. Why did Algiers have less influence on international commerce as compared
with other maritime cities?
D. Did the Ottomans leave their traces on the city of Algiers? Justify.
?Who or what do the underlined words in the text refer to -5

..…………= It (1£) =……… Its(2£) =………… Those (4£)