10.5: Culture

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Learning Objectives

In this section, you will:

Learn about the Arab countries Tunisia and Algeria, their famous cities, their most famous historical places, their traditional food, and clothes.

10.5.1. Tunisia and Algeria

Tunisia and Algeria are part of the Maghreb region of the Middle East. The Maghreb countries are Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Mauritania.

Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): This figure illustrates the countries of the Maghreb Union. CC BY-SA 4.0

10.5.2. Tunisia and Algeria

This table will introduce you to Tunisia and Algeria with their capital cities:
The Country Name in English	The Country Name in Arabic	The Name of the Capital in English	The Name of the Capital in Arabic	Flag
Tunisia	تونس Touness	Tunis	تونس Touness	Tunisia
Algeria	الجزائر Al-Jaza'er	Algiers	الجزائر Al-Jaza'er	Algeria

10.5.3. Countries and Famous Cities

10.5.3.1. Tunisia

Tunisia is an Arab country located in north Africa. It borders the Mediterranean Sea to the north, north-east, and east, Algeria to the west and south-west, and Libya to the south-east.

Population: 11.82 million (2020 estimate).

Capital: Tunis.

Currency: Tunisian Dinar (TND).

Official Language: Modern Standard Arabic.

Figure \(\PageIndex{2}\): This figure presents the cities of Tunisia by OCHA; CC BY 3.0

This table shows the major cities in Tunisia:
City Name	City Name in Arabic	Pronunciation	Image
Tunis	تونس	Touness	Tunis; CC0
Kairouan	القيروان	Al-Qayrawan	Kairouan; CC BY-SA 4.0
Sfax	صفاقس	Safakess	Sfax; CC BY-SA 3.0
Sousse	سوسة	Soussah	Sousse; CC BY-SA 4.0
Gabès	قابس	Qaabess	Gabès; Pixabay License
Ariana	أريانة	Arianah	Ariana; CC BY-SA 3.0

10.5.3.2. Algeria

Algeria is an Arab country located in north Africa. It borders the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Morocco to the west and north-west, Mauritania to the west, Mali to the south-west, Niger to the south-east, Libya to the east, and Tunisia to the north-east.

Population: 43.85 million (2020 estimate).

Capital: Algiers.

Currency: Algerian Dinar (DZD).

Official Language: Modern Standard Arabic.

Figure \(\PageIndex{3}\): This figure presents the cities of Algeria by OCHA; CC BY 3.0

This table shows the major cities in Algeria:
City Name	City Name in Arabic	Pronunciation	Image
Algiers	الجزائر	Al-Jaza'er	Algiers; CC BY 2.0
Oran	وهران	Wahraan	Oran; CC BY-SA 4.0
Constantine	قسنطينة	Qsantinah	Constantine; CC BY 2.0
Batna	باتنة	Batnah	Batna; CC BY-SA 3.0
Annaba	عنّابة	Annabah	Annaba; CC BY-SA 2.0
Tlemcen	تلمسان	Tlemssen	Tlemcen; CC BY 3.0

10.5.4. Famous Historical Places

10.5.4.1. Tunisia

The video below presents a tour around Tunisia:

Carthage - Tunis

Carthage (Qertaaj - قرطاج) was the capital city of the Carthagian civilization north-east of Tunisia. It was one of the most important trading hubs of the Ancient Mediterranean. Carthage was founded in the 9th century BC on the Gulf of Tunis. Its remains now lie on the outskirts of Tunis, Tunisia.

Figure \(\PageIndex{4}\): Carthage. CC BY-SA 4.0

El Jem Amphitheater - El Jem

El Jem Amphitheater (Masrah El-Jem - مسرح الجم) is located in the north-eastern part of Tunisia in the city of El Jem. It was built in 238 AD by the Roman Empire and was one of their biggest amphitheaters. It is an exceptionally welll-preserved amphitheater.

Figure \(\PageIndex{5}\): El Jem Amphitheater. CC BY-SA 3.0

Bulla Regia - Jendouba

Bulla Regia (Bularigia - بولاريجيا) is an ancient town which was Berber, Punic, and Roman. It is located in the north-west of Tunisia near Jendouba. It emerged around the 5th century BC under Carthage. It is one of the most prominent historical sites in Tunisia.

Figure \(\PageIndex{6}\): Bulla Regia. CC BY-SA 4.0

10.5.4.2. Algeria

The video below presents a tour around Algeria:

Notre Dame of Africa - Algiers

Notre Dame of Africa (Al-Saiyda Al-Ifriqiya - السيّدة الإفريقيّة) is located on the north side of Algiers, Algeria. It was inaugurated in 1872 and employed a Neo-Byzantine style.

Figure \(\PageIndex{7}\): Notre Dame of Africa. CC BY-SA 3.0

Royal Mausoleum of Mauretania - Tipaza Province

The Royal Mausoleum of Mauretania (Al-Dhareeh Al-Malaki Al- Moritani - الضريح الملكي الموريتاني) is a funerary monument located on the road between Churchell and Algiers in Tipaza Province, Algeria. It is the tomb where the Numidian Berber King Juba II and the Queen Cleopatra Selene II, sovereigns of Numidia and Mauretania Caesariensis, were allegedly buried. The Mausoleum was founded in 3 BC.

Figure \(\PageIndex{8}\): Royal Mausoleum of Mauretania. CC BY-SA 3.0

Fort Santa Cruz - Oran

Fort Santa Cruz (Qal'et Santa Krooz - قلعة سانتا كروز) is one of three forts in Oran. It was built between 1577 and 1604 by the Spaniards on the Pic d'Aidour above Gulf of Oran in the Mediterranean Sea, at an elevation of above 400 metres.

Figure \(\PageIndex{9}\): Fort Santa Cruz. CC BY-SA 4.0

10.5.5. Traditional Food and Clothes

10.5.5.1. Traditional Food

The Maghreb countries have very delicious foods, some of which are found in common between them. While some remain the same from one Maghreb country to another, other vary in ingrediants and names.

This table presents the most famous traditional dishes in Tunisia and Algeria:
Region	Video
Traditional food in Tunisia
Traditional food in Algeria

This table presents how to make some of the most famous traditional food in Tunisia and Algeria:
Food in English	Food in Arabic	Image
Shakshuka	شكشوكة	Shakshuka
Couscous	كسكس	Couscous
Brik	بريك	Brik; CC BY-SA 4.0
Harira Soup	شوربة حريرة	Harira Soup; CC BY-SA 4.0

10.5.5.2. Traditional Clothes

In each of the Maghreb countries, there are different traditional clothes that come as a result of different cultures and religious backgrounds of the different areas. This is why there is no single traditional clothing that we can call characteristic of the whole country. Traditional clothing is usually used in religious ceremonies, weddings, and/or other occasions, but is rarely, if at all, used in everyday life.

This table presents the most famous traditional clothes of the Maghreb countries:
Country	Clothes
Traditional clothing in Tunisia
Traditional clothing in Algeria

Query \(\PageIndex{6.1}\)

Put the name of the country under the correct flag:

Query \(\PageIndex{6.2}\)

Query \(\PageIndex{6.3}\)

Query \(\PageIndex{6.4}\)

Put the name of the city in the correct column:

Query \(\PageIndex{6.5}\)

Activity

Make a video about an Arab country. The video will include the following: Location, capital, famous cities, historical places, authentic dishes, and new Arabic Cultural phrases that you learned.