View source for Awjila

{{Infobox settlement
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|official_name          = Awjila
|other_name             = Augila
|native_name            =أوجله  <!-- for cities whose native name is not in English -->
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|subdivision_name       = {{flag|Libya}}
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|subdivision_name1      = [[Cyrenaica]]
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|subdivision_name2      = [[Al Wahat District|Al Wahat]] 
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|coordinates            = {{coord|29|6|29|N|21|17|13|E|region:LY|display=inline,title}}
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}} 
'''Awjila''' ({{langx|ar|أوجلة}}, {{langx|it|Augila}}) is an [[oasis]] town in the [[Al Wahat District]] in the [[Cyrenaica]] region of northeastern [[Libya]]. Since [[classical times]] it has been known as a place where high quality [[Date fruit|dates]] are farmed.  Since the [[Muslim conquest of the Maghreb|Arab conquest]] in the 7th century, [[Islam]] has played an important role in the community.  The oasis is located on the east-west [[caravan route]] between [[Egypt]] and [[Tripoli, Libya]], and the north-south route between [[Benghazi]] and the [[Sahel]] between [[Lake Chad]] and [[Darfur]]. In the past, it was an important trading center. The people cultivate small gardens using water from deep [[Water well|wells]].  Recently, the [[oil industry]] has become an increasingly important source of employment.

==Location==

Awjila and the adjoining oasis of [[Jalu]] are isolated, the only towns on the desert highway between [[Ajdabiya]], {{convert|250|km}} to the northwest, and [[Kufra]], {{convert|625|km}} to the southeast.{{sfn|Ham|2007|p=132}}
An 1872 account describes the cluster of three oases: the Aujilah oasis, Jalloo ([[Jalu]]) to the east and Leshkerreh ([[Jikharra]]) to the northeast. Each oasis had a small hill covered in date palm trees, surrounded by a plain of red sand impregnated with salts of soda.{{sfn|Smith|1872|p=338}}
Among them, the three oases had a population of 9,000 to 10,000 people.{{sfn|Smith|1872|p=338}}
The people of the oasis are mainly [[Berber people|Berber]], and some still speak a Berber-origin language.{{sfn|Chandra|1986|p=113}} As of 2005, the [[Awjila language]] was highly endangered.{{sfn|Batibo|2005|p=77}}

==Climate==
{{Weather box|location = Awjila
|metric first = Y
|single line = Y

|Jan high C = 19.9				
|Feb high C = 21.9
|Mar high C = 25.3
|Apr high C = 29.7
|May high C = 34.7
|Jun high C = 37.2
|Jul high C = 36.7
|Aug high C = 36.9
|Sep high C = 35.8
|Oct high C = 32.4
|Nov high C = 27.0
|Dec high C = 21.4

|Jan low C =  5.6				
|Feb low C =  7.0
|Mar low C = 9.2
|Apr low C = 13.1
|May low C = 18.3
|Jun low C = 19.9
|Jul low C = 21.0
|Aug low C = 21.0
|Sep low C = 19.9
|Oct low C = 16.3
|Nov low C =  12.0
|Dec low C =  7.7

|Jan precipitation mm = 3					
|Feb precipitation mm = 3
|Mar precipitation mm = 3
|Apr precipitation mm = 2
|May precipitation mm = 0
|Jun precipitation mm = 0
|Jul precipitation mm = 0
|Aug precipitation mm = 0
|Sep precipitation mm = 0
|Oct precipitation mm = 3
|Nov precipitation mm = 2
|Dec precipitation mm = 3
|year precipitation mm= 19

|source = [https://en.climate-data.org/location/57998/ Climate-data.org]
|date=11 February 2018}}

==History==

===Classical times===

The Awjila (Augila) oasis is mentioned by [[Herodotus]] (c. 484 – 425 BC).
He describes the nomadic [[Nasamones]] who migrated between the coasts of [[Gulf of Sidra|Syrtis Major]] and the Augila oasis, where they may have exacted tribute from the local people.{{sfn|Asheri|Lloyd|Corcella|Murray|2007|p=698}}
Herodotus says it was a journey of ten days from the oasis of Ammonium, modern [[Siwa Oasis|Siwa]], to the oasis of Augila.{{fact|date=October 2021}}
This distance was confirmed by the German explorer [[Friedrich Hornemann]] (1772–1801), who covered the distance in nine days, although caravans normally take 13 days.
In the summer the Nasamones left their flocks by the coast and travelled to the oasis to gather dates.
There were other permanent inhabitants of the oasis.{{sfn|Smith|1872|p=338}}

[[Ptolemy]] (c. 90 – 168) implies that the Greek colonists had forced the Nasamones to leave the coast and take up residence in Augila.{{sfn|Smith|1872|p=338}} 
[[Procopius]], writing around 562, says that even in his day sacrifices continued to be made to [[Amun|Ammon]] and to [[Alexander the Great]] of Macedon in two Libyan cities that were both called Augila. He was probably referring to what are now [[El Agheila]] on the Gulf of Sirte and the oasis of Awjilah.{{fact|date=October 2021}}
According to Procopius the temples of the oasis were converted into Christian churches by the Byzantine Emperor [[Justinian I]] (c. 482 – 565).{{sfn|Smith|1872|p=338}}
The 6th-century geographer [[Stephanus of Byzantium]] described Augila as a city.{{sfn|Smith|1872|p=338}}

===Early Arab era===
[[File:The Old mosque, Awjilah.jpg|thumb|240px|12th-century [[Atiq Mosque (Awjila)|Grand mosque of Atik]], Awjilah]]
The Arabs launched a campaign against the [[Byzantine Empire]] soon after [[Muhammad]] died in 632, quickly conquering Syria, Persia and Egypt. After occupying [[Alexandria]] in 643, they swept along the Mediterranean coast of Africa, taking [[Cyrenaica]] in 644, [[Tripolitania]] in 646 and [[Fezzan]] in 663.{{sfn|Falola|Morgan|Oyeniyi|2012|p=14}}

The region around Awjila was conquered by Sidi [[Abdullah ibn Saad|‘Abdullāh ibn Sa‘ad ibn Abī as-Sarḥ]].{{sfn|Awjila: Libyan Tourism}}
He was a [[companion of Muhammad]] and standard bearer, and an important saint. His tomb was established in Awjila around 650.{{sfn|Mason|1974|p=396}}
A modern structure has since replaced the original tomb.{{sfn|Ham|2007|p=132}}
The Sarahna family, who consider themselves the family of Sidi Abdullah, are the protectors of his tomb.
When the [[Senussi]] center was established in Awjila in 1872, the Sarahna assumed the role of Islamic teachers.{{sfn|Mason|1974|p=397}}

After being introduced in the 7th century, Islam has always been a major influence on the life of the oasis.
The Arab chronicler [[Al-Bakri]] says that there were already several mosques around the oasis by the 11th century.{{sfn|Mason|1974|p=395}}
According to oral tradition, in the 12th century a learned man from the coast of Tripolitania said that there were forty shrines in Awjila, 
and forty saints hidden among the people of the oasis. By the late 1960s only sixteen shrines remained.{{sfn|Mason|1974|p=395}}
Some of the saints in the surviving tombs lived during the early years of Islam, 
and the details of their life and even their family lineage have been forgotten.{{sfn|Mason|1974|p=396}}

===Trading centre===
[[File:Caravane dans le Désert blanc.jpg|thumb|240px|Caravan in the [[Farafra, Egypt|Farafra]] desert to the east of Awjila]]
In the 10th century Awjila was a stage on the trading route between the [[Ibadi]] Berber capital of [[Zuwayla]]{{efn|The medieval gate of [[Bab Zuweila]] in Cairo takes its name from Zuwayla.{{sfn|Martin|1983|p=555}}}} in the Fezzan and the newly established [[Fatimid]] capital of Cairo in Egypt.{{sfn|Martin|1983|p=555}}
The east-west caravan route from Cairo to Tripoli, the Fezzan and Tunis went via [[Jaghbub]], [[Jalu]] and Awjila.{{sfn|Fage|Oliver|1985|p=16}} 
In the early [[Mamluk]] era (13th century), trade from Egypt was along a route that led via Awjila to the Fezzan, and then on to [[Kanem Empire|Kanem]], [[Bornu Empire|Bornu]] and to cities such as [[Timbuktu]] on the [[Niger River|Niger]] bend. Awjila became the main market for slaves from these regions.{{sfn|Oliver|Atmore|2001|p=19}}
Most of these slaves supplied domestic needs.{{sfn|Oliver|Atmore|2001|p=20}}
Gold was purchased from [[Bambouk]] and Bouré in what is now [[Senegal]] but then was part of the [[Mali Empire]] of the [[Mandinka people]]. 
In exchange, Egypt exported textiles.{{sfn|Oliver|Atmore|2001|p=19}}

During the [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] period in Egypt, Awjila lay on the route taken by pilgrims traveling from Timbuktu via [[Ghat, Libya|Ghat]], [[Ghadames]] and the Fezzan, 
avoiding the main Ottoman centers.{{sfn|Oliver|Atmore|2001|p=46}}
In 1639 Awjila came under the rule of the Turkish ruler of Tripolitania, who stationed a permanent garrison at Benghazi.{{sfn|Holt|Lambton|Lewis|1977|p=263}}
In the 18th century, the merchants of Awjila held a monopoly over the trade between Cairo and the Fezzan.{{sfn|Walz|1975|p=665}}
Describing the trade between Egypt and [[Hausaland]], Hornemann lists:
{{Quote|... slaves of both sexes, ostrich feathers, zibette (musk from civet cats), tiger skins (sic), and gold, partly in dust, partly in native grains, to be manufactured into 
rings and other ornaments for the people of interior Africa. From Bornu, copper is imported in great quantity. Cairo sends silks, ''melayes'' (striped blue and white calicoes - i.e. ''milayat'', wrappers, sheeting) woolen cloths, glass... beads for bracelets, and an... assortment of East India goods... The merchants of Bengasi usually join the caravan from Cairo at Augila, import tobacco manufactured for chewing, or snuff, and sundry wares fabricated in Turkey...{{sfn|Martin|1983|p=567}}}}

[[File:Awjila caravan routes.svg|thumb|240px|Caravan routes in Libya, 19th century. Awjila and Jalu in the northeast]]
[[File:CentralEastAfrica1750.png|thumb|240px|States to the south with whom caravans from Awjila traded.]]
Around 1810 a Majabra trader from Jalu named Schehaymah became lost while travelling to [[Ouaddai Empire|Wadai]] via [[Murzuk]] in the Fezzan.
He was found by some [[Bidayat]], who took him via [[Ounianga Kébir (town)|Ounianga]] to Wara, the old capital of Wadai.
The Sultan of Wadai, [[Abd al-Karim Sabun]] (1804–1815) agreed with Schehaymah's proposal to open a caravan route to Benghazi along a direct route through [[Kufra]], and Awjila / [[Jalu]]. 
This new route would bypass both Fezzan and [[Darfur]], states that until then had controlled the eastern Saharan trade. 
The first caravans travelled the route between 1809 and 1820.{{sfn|Cordell|1977|p=22}}

The trade was disrupted for a while in the 1820s due to political instability in Wadai, but starting in the 1830s every two or three years a caravan would travel the route.
Usually there were two or three hundred camels carrying ivory and skins, along with a batch of slaves.{{sfn|Cordell|1977|p=23-24}} 
Trade increased from the 1860s.  The main stations between Benghazi and the southern terminal at [[Abéché]] were the assembly point at Awjila / Jalu where the caravans were made up, and the center at Kufra where food and water could be obtained.{{sfn|Cordell|1977|p=24}}
Later the north-south route again grew in importance due to disruption of traffic on the Nile by the [[History of Mahdist Sudan|Mahdist revolution]] in the [[Sudan]].{{sfn|Cordell|1977|p=22}}

[[Muhammad ibn Ali as-Senussi]] stayed in Jalu and Awjila before opening his first lodge in al-Baida in 1843.
Over the next ten years the lodges of the [[Senussi]] became established throughout the [[Bedouin]]s of Cyrenaica.{{sfn|Cordell|1977|p=28}} 
Later they spread the Senussi influence further south, helping quell violence and resolve trade disputes.{{sfn|Cordell|1977|p=29}}
Each post on the north-south route, including Awjila, was protected by a Senussi sheikh.{{sfn|Cordell|1977|p=22}}
As late as 1907, a significant amount of the trade passing through Benghazi was in goods carried over this route, and goods would also have been routed from interior points such as Awjila and Jalu east to Egypt and west to Tripoli.{{sfn|Cordell|1977|p=21}}

==Recent years==

Today the main activities of the people in Awjila are agriculture and working for the oil sector companies, as this area is the cradle of Libyan wealth.
The main crops are dates from the many varieties of palm trees, tomatoes, and cereals.{{citation needed|date=March 2013}}
The Awjila oasis is known for the high quality of its dates.{{sfn|Awjila: Libyan Tourism}}
Starting in the 1960s, the oil industry drove growth in the once-sleepy village.{{sfn|Mason|1982|p=323}}
In 1968 the population of the village was about 2,000 people, but by 1982 it had risen to over 4,000, supported by twelve mosques.{{sfn|Mason|1982|p=322}}
A 2007 travel guide gives the population as 6,790.{{sfn|Ham|2007|p=131}}

The [[Atiq Mosque (Awjila)|Great Mosque of Atiq]] is the oldest ''masjed'' ([[mosque]]) in the [[Sahara]] with its unique style of architecture with rooms that are naturally air conditioned. In the scorching heat of the summer days the rooms are cool and at night they are warm.{{sfn|Awjila: MVM Travel}}
The oasis was a destination for viewing the [[Solar eclipse of March 29, 2006]].{{sfn|Atiq Mosque: Atlas Obscura}}

== References ==
{{Commons category|Awjila}}
'''Notes'''
{{Notelist}}
'''Citations'''
{{Reflist|colwidth=20em}}
'''Sources'''
{{Refbegin}}
* {{cite book| first4 = Oswyn|last4=Murray|first5=Barbara|last5=Graziosi| author5-link=Barbara Graziosi |last1 = Asheri| first1 = David| last2 = Lloyd| first2 = Alan Brian| last3 = Corcella| first3 = Aldo| title = A Commentary on Herodotus| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=yPhE6NxllLoC&pg=PA698| access-date = 2013-03-24| year = 2007| publisher = Oxford University Press| isbn = 978-0-19-814956-9}}
* {{cite web|ref={{harvid|Atiq Mosque: Atlas Obscura}}|url=http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/atiq-mosque
 |title=Atiq Mosque: Early Islamic mosque with several strange conical domes|access-date =9 March 2013|publisher=Atlasobscura.com}}
* {{cite web|ref={{harvid|Awjila: Libyan Tourism}}|url=http://www.libyan-td.com/index.php/82-libyan-cities.html?start=7|title=Awjila|access-date=7 March 2013|publisher=Libyan Tourism Directory|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130411064805/http://www.libyan-td.com/index.php/82-libyan-cities.html?start=7|archive-date=2013-04-11|url-status=dead}} 
* {{cite web |ref={{harvid|Awjila: MVM Travel}}|url=http://www.mvmtravel.com/places-to-visit/awjila-libya/997/
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* {{cite book| last = Batibo| first = Herman| title = Language Decline And Death In Africa: Causes, Consequences And Challenges| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=yoZ_fU_B0KgC&pg=PA77| access-date = 2013-03-24| year = 2005| publisher = Multilingual Matters| isbn = 978-1-85359-808-1}}
* {{cite book| last = Chandra| first = Satish| title = International Protection of Minorities| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=ybJSOTNHhaQC&pg=PA113| access-date = 2013-03-24| year = 1986| publisher = Mittal Publications| id = GGKEY:L2U7JG58SWT}}
* {{cite journal |journal=The Journal of African History|volume=18 |issue=1|date=January 1977 |pages=21–36|publisher=Cambridge University Press
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* {{cite book| last1 = Fage| first1 = John Donnelly| last2 = Oliver| first2 = Roland Anthony| title = The Cambridge History of Africa| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=8DSa_viBgsgC&pg=PA16| access-date = 2013-03-27| volume = 6| year = 1985| publisher = Cambridge University Press| isbn = 978-0-521-22803-9}}
* {{cite book| last1 = Falola| first1 = Toyin| last2 = Morgan| first2 = Jason| last3 = Oyeniyi| first3 = Bukola Adeyemi| title = Culture and Customs of Libya| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=aBGk0uIqHdQC&pg=PA14| access-date = 2013-03-24| year = 2012| publisher = ABC-CLIO| isbn = 978-0-313-37859-1}}
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* {{cite book| last1 = Holt| first1 = Peter M.| last2 = Lambton| first2 = Ann K. S.| last3 = Lewis| first3 = Bernard| title = The Cambridge History of Islam| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=y99jTbxNbSAC&pg=PA263| access-date = 2013-03-27| volume = 2A| date = 1977-04-21| publisher = Cambridge University Press| isbn = 978-0-521-29137-8}}
* {{cite journal|last=Martin|first=B. G. |journal=[[Africa: Rivista trimestrale di studi e documentazione|Africa: Rivista trimestrale di studi e documentazione dell'Istituto italiano per l'Africa e l'Oriente]] |volume=38 |issue=4 
 |pages=545–579
 |date=December 1983 |publisher=Istituto Italiano per l'Africa e l'Oriente (IsIAO) |jstor=40759666|title=Ahmad Rasim Pasha and the Suppression of the Fazzan Slave Trade, 1881-1896
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* {{cite journal |title=Saharan Saints: Sacred Symbols or Empty Forms?
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* {{cite journal |title=Qadhdhafi's "Revolution" and Change in a Libyan Oasis Community
 |last=Mason|first=John P. |journal=Middle East Journal |volume=36 |issue=3 |pages=319–335
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* {{cite book| last1 = Oliver| first1 = Roland Anthony| last2 = Atmore| first2 = Anthony| title = Medieval Africa, 1250-1800| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=4o-OZ5w-BmMC&pg=PA19| access-date = 2013-03-27| date = 2001-08-16| publisher = Cambridge University Press| isbn = 978-0-521-79372-8}}
* {{cite book| last = Petersen| first = Andrew| title = Dictionary of Islamic Architecture| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=gVQj7bW0W9MC&pg=PA166| access-date = 2013-03-24| date = 2002-03-11| publisher = Taylor & Francis| isbn = 978-0-203-20387-3}}
* {{cite book| last = Smith| first = Sir William| title = Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=wB0QAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA338| access-date = 24 March 2013| year = 1872| publisher = John Murray| page = 338}}
* {{cite journal |title=Egypt in Africa: A Lost Perspective in Artisans et Commercants au Caire au XVIIIe Siecle by Andre Raymond
 |last=Walz|first=Terence  |journal=The International Journal of African Historical Studies |volume=8 |issue=4 |pages=652–665
 |year=1975 
 |publisher=Boston University African Studies Center |jstor=216700 |doi=10.2307/216700
 }}
{{Catholic|wstitle=Augilæ}}
{{Refend}}
{{Al Wahat}} 
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Populated places in Al Wahat District]]
[[Category:Cyrenaica]]
[[Category:Oases of Libya]]
[[Category:Baladiyat of Libya]]