The History of Libya

Romans conquer Libya

74 BCE

Arabs conquer Libya and spread Islam.

Mar 20, 643

16th century

Mar 20, 1500

Libya becomes part of the Ottoman Empire, which joins the three provinces of Tripolitania, Cyrenaica and Fezzan into one regency in Tripoli.

Italy seizes Libya from the Ottomans. Omar al-Mukhtar begins 20-year insurgency against Italian rule.

Mar 20, 1911

Libya becomes independent under King Idris al-Sanusi

Jan 20, 1951

Libya grants two American oil companies a concession of some 14 million acres.

Mar 20, 1956

The Gaddafi era

Mar 20, 1980

1980 - Libyan troops intervene in civil war in northern Chad.

Jumbo jet crashes onto Lockerbie

Mar 20, 1988

Libya returns the Aozou Strip to Chad.

Mar 20, 1994

Libyan troops help to quell a coup attempt against President Ange-Felix Patasse of the Central African Republic.

May 20, 2001

Russia agrees to sell Libya weapons in a deal worth $1.8bn. The deal is thought to include fighter jets, tanks and air defence systems.

Jan 20, 2010

1961

Period: Mar 20, 2017 to Mar 21, 2017

Libya is able to export oil for the first time thanks to a 104 mile pipeline.