Roman power the influence of the widespread organisation of the Berber tribes grew and the Byzantine restoration under Justinian was limited by the growth of the Berber element. The exarchs had continually to deal with insurrections of the Berbers, and were probably scarcely able to exercise authority outside the limits of the ever decreasing number of towns held by garrisons which commanded respect. It is therefore clear from the beginning that it was not the Byzantines who made the occupation of Northern Africa difficult for the Arabians, but the Berbers, who in their time of need made common cause with their former tyrants against the new intruder. The Arabs had much trouble to make it clear to the Berbers at the point of the sword that their real interest lay with Islām and not against it. As soon as they had once realised this fact they accepted the Arabs for their leaders and flooded Southern Europe, while in Africa the nascent civilisation of Islām effected an entrance, though it received a Berber national colouring.
The continued occupation of Alexandria called for a screening of the flank by occupying also the adjoining territory of Barḳa.[1] Barḳa was the leading community of the ancient Pentapolis. The rich towns of this group at once experienced the consequence of the occupation of Egypt when the Arabians appeared before them. It has been already mentioned that the Arabs through 'Amr made peace with Barḳa immediately after the occupation of Alexandria. That took place as early as the autumn of the year 642 and the winter thereupon following, under the leadership of 'Uḳba ibn Nāfi', of whom more is yet to be said. The Pentapolis belonged thenceforward permanently to the Empire of Islām, although retaining in the first instance administrative independence. Bordering on Barḳa was the ancient Proconsular Africa, the eastern half of which, lying between the Greater and the Lesser Syrtis, was clearly distinguished by the Arabs under the title of Tripolis, from the northern half, with the capital Carthage, this latter territory being termed by them simply Africa (Ifrīḳīya). After the occupation of Barḳa various raids took place even under 'Amr (642-643), these extending throughout the whole territory of Tripolis, while individual detachments went southward into the desert. There can be little doubt that even at that time 'Uḳba pushed forward as far as Fezzan (Zawīla) and another Amīr of the name of Busr penetrated to the Oasis of Jufra (Waddān). This latter incident took place while 'Amr was besieging Tripolis, which he finally occupied at least temporarily. At the Nafūsa mountains 'Amr turned back, as the Caliph was averse to pushing forward any further. In spite of these successes there was for the time being no question of any permanent settlement of the Arabs westward of Barḳa. 'Uḳba may have undertaken some small isolated expeditions with Barḳa
- ↑ The following exposition is based on a critical re-examination of the sources of the works of Caudel and Wellhausen.
