History

Had camels not been introduced into the area, the process of desertification that turned fertile plains into the Sahara desert would have separated southern Berbers from the Mediterranean coast. The groups that migrated southward in search of pastures kept in touch with their native culture, and later shared the benefits of the Islamic civilization, which flourished along the coast of the Mediterranean coast.

The southern part of present-day Mauritania was the scene of one of the most peculiar African civilizations, but the Almoravid conquest, and the Fulah migrations afterwards, resulted in the integration and unification of the people there.

Bani Hilal, who had invaded North Africa three centuries before, reached Mauritania in the 14^th century. For over two centuries, Bani Hilal instigated a conflict in the region and fought with the Berbers throughout an area including present-day southern Algeria and Sahara. All the Berber groups in the region joined forces in 1644 to fight the Arabs, but the Cherr Baba War ended in 1674 with the Berber defeat. Known as the Hassani, the Arabs became a warrior caste monopolizing the use of weapons, while education, trade and other civilian activities ended up in the hands of the local population. The African shepherds from the south known as the Haratan, came beneath these two groups and kept as semi-serfs.

Several emirates arose towards the end of the 17^thcentury. Because of their internal rivalries and dynastic feud, none of these emirates was able to achieve the political organization of the country. However, a limited degree of order was provided within the region, a fact that eventually resulted in a small revival of trade caravans.

The growing trade In the 19^th century coincided with a French project to transfer Sudanese commercial activities to Senegal requiring the elimination of trans-Saharan trade and the frequent robberies in Senegal. The French invaded Mauritania in 1858 under General Faidherbe and the fighting continued until the 20th century. The resistance initially met in the emirates of Trarza and Brakna continued with the Sheikh Ma al-Aini, with his sons and later his cousin, Muhammad al-Mamun, the emir of Adrar. Muhammad al-Mamun died in combat in 1934 after being pursued by the French almost one thousand kilometers into the Sahara.

Following World War II, Mauritania became a French Overseas Province, sending deputies to the French Parliament; ten years later internal autonomy was granted, and in 1960 independence was gained.