A Critical Reassessment of Sirte in Charles-André Julien's History of North Africa in Light of Arabic-Islamic Historical Sources

Abstract

This study critically examines the representation of the city of Sirte in Charles-André Julien's History of North Africa by comparing his historical narrative with Arabic-Islamic historical and geographical sources as well as recent archaeological studies. The research adopts a comparative historical-critical methodology, analyzing Julien's interpretation alongside the accounts of prominent Muslim historians and geographers, including Ibn Hawqal, Al-Bakri, Al-Idrisi, Ibn Khaldun, Al-Baladhuri, and other primary sources. The findings reveal that Julien successfully situated Sirte within the broader political and geographical development of North Africa, emphasizing its strategic position along the coastal route and its historical significance during the Islamic conquests. However, his account provides only a limited discussion of the city's urban structure, administrative organization, economic activities, and social development. In contrast, Arabic-Islamic sources portray Sirte as a fortified city with flourishing markets, religious institutions, administrative functions, maritime trade, and caravan networks, highlighting its prominent regional role during the Islamic period before its gradual decline due to intertwined political, economic, and environmental factors. The study concludes that integrating modern historiography with Arabic-Islamic primary sources and archaeological evidence provides a more balanced and comprehensive reconstruction of Sirte's historical development and contributes to a more critical understanding of North African historiography.