Books.org participates in affiliate programs including Bookshop.org and the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. We may earn a commission from qualifying purchases made through links on this page, at no additional cost to you.
Overview
For more than three decades, most countries of the world have viewed Libya as a radical, unstable nation. Under the leadership of Muammar al-Qaddafi, Libya has sponsored international terrorism and supported efforts to overthrow the governments of its African neighbors. This has led to confrontations with the West, particularly with the United States during the 1980s.
Beneath the sands of Libya lies a valuable resource-vast amounts of oil. Despite this, the people of Libya have remained poor during Qaddafi's rule. Although in recent years Libyan society appears to have become more open, and Qaddafi seems to have moderated some of his extremist views, the future of the country remains uncertain.
Discusses the geography, history, economy, government, religion, people, foreign relations, and major cities of Libya.
Synopsis
For more than three decades, most countries of the world have viewed Libya as a radical, unstable nation. Under the leadership of Muammar al-Qaddafi, Libya has sponsored international terrorism and supported efforts to overthrow the governments of its African neighbors. This has led to confrontations with the West, particularly with the United States during the 1980s.
Beneath the sands of Libya lies a valuable resource-vast amounts of oil. Despite this, the people of Libya have remained poor during Qaddafi's rule. Although in recent years Libyan society appears to have become more open, and Qaddafi seems to have moderated some of his extremist views, the future of the country remains uncertain.
Children's Literature
Billed as "Updated and Revised," this "Major Muslim Nations" series is a successor to two previous ones, brought on a little farther in time. Arranged in seven chapters, each volume offers information about geography, history, economy, politics and religion, people and communities, and foreign relations. In Libya students will learn that this oil-rich region is made up of a narrow fertile Mediterranean coast and a large expanse of desert, which includes oases and mountains. Main cities are Benghazi and Libya's capital, Tripoli. A section relating history details the many empires that have ruled Libya—ancient Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Islamic Arabs, and Italians. A chapter entitled "The People" adds the only information about women and the only picture of women (food for thought by female readers). For forty years this ostensibly socialist nation has been dominated by erratic, unpredictable Muammar Qaddafi, shown in his many ornate and colorful costumes. His involvement in international terrorism long made him an enemy of the West, though admired by some Arab states. In foreign relations, Qaddafi apologized (in 2003) for the bombing of the American plane blown up over Lockerbie, Scotland, and normalized relations with the United States, which in 2004 rescinded Libya's designation as a state sponsor of terrorism. A mellower Qaddafi has lately become chairman of the African Union. (Each volume contains more detailed information than many teens may be prepared to digest.) Note: The Foreign Policy Research Institute is a conservative think tank, whose president has contributed an introduction to the series. Reviewer: Barbara L. Talcroft