Algeria - Roman history erased Options

[Emperor]

The article on Algeria has an extensive history section, but Rome has practically been erased.

Algeria - Wikipedia (links right to Classical period)

After Masinissa's death in 148 BC, the Berber kingdoms were divided and reunited several times. Massinissa's line survived until 24 AD, when the remaining Berber territory was annexed to the Roman Empire for 2 centuries.

They also say Rome defeated Carthage a bit earlier.

I'm no expert on Algerian history but I'm pretty sure it was an important part of the Roman Empire for some 500 or so years. Might want to mention Vandals and Byzantines too. There's probably also some early Christian history of interest there.

Some stuff is in the sub-articles, but the main article is really weak on this time period.

[Web Fred]

The article on Algeria has an extensive history section, but Rome has practically been erased.

Algeria - Wikipedia (links right to Classical period)

After Masinissa's death in 148 BC, the Berber kingdoms were divided and reunited several times. Massinissa's line survived until 24 AD, when the remaining Berber territory was annexed to the Roman Empire for 2 centuries.

They also say Rome defeated Carthage a bit earlier.

I'm no expert on Algerian history but I'm pretty sure it was an important part of the Roman Empire for some 500 or so years. Might want to mention Vandals and Byzantines too. There's probably also some early Christian history of interest there.

Some stuff is in the sub-articles, but the main article is really weak on this time period.

So add to it, it's there for the taking...

[Mister Die]

So add to it, it's there for the taking...

Why should he? He's not expected to be an expert on Algeria in Roman times. When you go into an actual encyclopedia you're supposed to have well-grounded faith in its content being accurate and the various aspects of the article being reasonably balanced. Wikipedia doesn't do this, because it's the "encyclopedia" that "anyone can edit," regardless of knowledge.

For what it's worth, here's the Great Soviet Encyclopedia bit on Algeria's ancient history (keeping in mind that they doubtlessly had to limit what they wrote in accordance with fitting these things into a single book):

Algeria in ancient times Stone implements from the Lower and Middle Paleolithic eras found on the territory of Algeria testify to the life of primitive people there 300–400,000 years ago. The first Phoenician colonies appeared on the territory of Algeria in the 12th century B.C. The Phoenicians clashed with the indigenous population, the ancient Libyan tribes, who spoke in dialects of the Libyan language (the forerunner of present-day Berber languages). These tribes engaged in hunting, cattle-breeding, and primitive agriculture. They defended their independence in battle against the expansion of powerful Carthage.

Two intertribal alliances—the Massiles and the Masesiles—arose on the territory of Algeria in the third century B.C. Massinissa, the agellid (leader) of the Massiles, united the two alliances into a single state, Numidia, at the end of the third century. Under Massinissa, numerous cities were built, including the Numidian capital of Cirta (the modern Constantine), and the level of agriculture rose. Great successes were achieved in the struggle with Carthage. However, the Numidian king Jugurtha (c. 116–105 B.C.) failed to repulse the onslaught of the Romans. His defeat gradually led to the complete enslavement of Numidia, which was turned into a Roman province (46 B.C.). Some of the local inhabitants became slaves, and Roman latifundia arose on the lands that were taken away from them. The indigenous population frequently rebelled. The largest rebellions were those of Takfarinata in 17–24 A.D. and of the Getulski tribes in 138. A significant portion of the Numidians, not wishing to submit to alien rule, departed for the Sahara, where they returned to a nomadic form of life. During the period of Roman rule, Latin spread in the cities of Algeria and, in the second century, Christianity. In the fourth and fifth centuries, Donatism, a popular movement that took the form of a Christian heresy, developed there.

In the fifth century, the coastal portion of North Africa (including the territory of Algeria) was conquered by the Vandals and, in the sixth century, by the Byzantines. In this period, feudal relations began to arise in Algeria. However, the primitive communal structure prevailed in the internal areas, which were little affected by alien influence.

One of the good things about Wikipedia in theory is that every article is unbounded from the need to constrain content, because obviously each article is its own webpage rather than confined to an x number of finite pages in a book. If this isn't taken advantage of, then one of Wikipedia's few advantages is irrelevant.

This post has been edited by Mister Die:

[Web Fred]

So add to it, it's there for the taking...

Why should he? He's not expected to be an expert on Algeria in Roman times. When you go into an actual encyclopedia you're supposed to have well-grounded faith in its content being accurate and the various aspects of the article being reasonably balanced. Wikipedia doesn't do this, because it's the "encyclopedia" that "anyone can edit," regardless of knowledge.

For what it's worth, here's the Great Soviet Encyclopedia bit on Algeria's ancient history (keeping in mind that they doubtlessly had to limit what they wrote in accordance with fitting these things into a single book):

Algeria in ancient times Stone implements from the Lower and Middle Paleolithic eras found on the territory of Algeria testify to the life of primitive people there 300–400,000 years ago. The first Phoenician colonies appeared on the territory of Algeria in the 12th century B.C. The Phoenicians clashed with the indigenous population, the ancient Libyan tribes, who spoke in dialects of the Libyan language (the forerunner of present-day Berber languages). These tribes engaged in hunting, cattle-breeding, and primitive agriculture. They defended their independence in battle against the expansion of powerful Carthage.

Two intertribal alliances—the Massiles and the Masesiles—arose on the territory of Algeria in the third century B.C. Massinissa, the agellid (leader) of the Massiles, united the two alliances into a single state, Numidia, at the end of the third century. Under Massinissa, numerous cities were built, including the Numidian capital of Cirta (the modern Constantine), and the level of agriculture rose. Great successes were achieved in the struggle with Carthage. However, the Numidian king Jugurtha (c. 116–105 B.C.) failed to repulse the onslaught of the Romans. His defeat gradually led to the complete enslavement of Numidia, which was turned into a Roman province (46 B.C.). Some of the local inhabitants became slaves, and Roman latifundia arose on the lands that were taken away from them. The indigenous population frequently rebelled. The largest rebellions were those of Takfarinata in 17–24 A.D. and of the Getulski tribes in 138. A significant portion of the Numidians, not wishing to submit to alien rule, departed for the Sahara, where they returned to a nomadic form of life. During the period of Roman rule, Latin spread in the cities of Algeria and, in the second century, Christianity. In the fourth and fifth centuries, Donatism, a popular movement that took the form of a Christian heresy, developed there.

In the fifth century, the coastal portion of North Africa (including the territory of Algeria) was conquered by the Vandals and, in the sixth century, by the Byzantines. In this period, feudal relations began to arise in Algeria. However, the primitive communal structure prevailed in the internal areas, which were little affected by alien influence.

One of the good things about Wikipedia in theory is that every article is unbounded from the need to constrain content, because obviously each article is its own webpage rather than confined to an x number of finite pages in a book. If this isn't taken advantage of, then one of Wikipedia's few advantages is irrelevant.

Ever heard the concept that it's "a work in progress"?