The Garamantian empire, also known as the Garama civilization or Garama kingdom, was an ancient African civilization that flourished in what is now known as Libya and Algeria. This powerful empire existed from around 800 BC to AD 700, spanning over a thousand years. It reached its peak during the first few centuries of the Common Era, before it was eventually conquered by Arab invaders.
The Garamantians were believed to be descendants of the Argonauts, legendary Greek heroes who sailed on the Argo in search of the Golden Fleece. They migrated from Libya to the banks of the Niger River in present-day Mali, where they intermarried with local populations. The Garamantian empire was centered around what is now called the Fezzan region in modern-day Libya and extended into parts of Algeria and Niger.
The civilization boasted a sophisticated underground water system that harnessed the limited resources of the Sahara Desert, showcasing their ingenuity and effort in African history. This network of tunnels allowed them to irrigate their crops and support a thriving population despite the harsh desert environment. However, much like other ancient civilizations such as Atlantis or Lemuria, the Garamantian empire has largely remained shrouded in mystery due to its isolation from the rest of the world for centuries after the fall of the Roman Empire.
Following the Arab conquest, many survivors of the Garamantian empire fled southwest and fused with the native populations along the Upper Niger River. They adopted their language and continued their existence in a new form, leaving behind an intriguing legacy that has only recently begun to be uncovered by archaeologists.
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