Episodes from the History of the Mauritanian State

Abstract

The writing of African history has developed considerably from the late fifteenth century to the present day. Broadly speaking, two stages may be distinguished: an initial stage in which almost all historical and literary production was the work of foreign authors, and a second stage marked by the emergence of historians specializing in African affairs.

The history of Mauritania forms part of African history and has received substantial attention from historians because of the important developments it witnessed in both ancient and modern times.

Mauritania—officially the Islamic Republic of Mauritania—is an integral part of the Arab world. It lies between the Sahara and the greener regions of sub-Saharan Africa; indeed, it combines both desert and fertile landscapes. Apart from neighboring Sudan, it is the only Arab country with this distinctive geographical character. Both countries extend southward from the heart of the Sahara, whereas most Arab states stretch northward from areas north of the Equator and are therefore regarded as predominantly northern countries, with Somalia as an exception. Mauritania also constitutes a cultural bridge—in language and religion—between the Arab countries and the states situated farther south in Africa. Its history is also marked by sustained resistance to French colonial domination during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.