Misratah (rarely Misrata or Misurata), (Arabic: مصراته, Mişrātah), a city and Sha'biyah (top level administrative division) in northwestern Libya, situated 210 km to the east of Tripoli on the Mediterranean coast near Cape Misratah.
With a population of about 400,000 in 2000 and 2005 estimates, it is the third largest city in Libya after Tripoli and Benghazi, though Sabha is the third most important city regional-wise, (as it is the chief city of Fezzan, one of the three traditional regions of Libya).
Geography
In the north and east, Misratah has a shoreline on the Mediterranean Sea. On land, it borders the following municipalities:
- Surt - south
- Bani Walid - southwest
- Tarhuna Wa Msalata - west
- Tajura Wa Al Nawahi AlArba' - northeast
History
There is no consensus among different sources on whether the city was established by the Phoenicians (3000 years ago),[1] the Romans,[2] or the Muslim conquests (7th century AD);[3][4] [5] nor on what was its old name (Thubactis,[3][4] Thubaqt,[5] Tubartis,[2] or Tobasitis).
Recent archaeological discoveries indicate that some sort of urban stability existed in the current location of the city since Roman times. The Roman origin theory seems to be less frequently cited and supported at least in the currently available sources and it is associated with slightly different names (Tubartis or Tobasitis) form those associated with the Islamic origin theory (Thubactis or Thubaqt). It is possible to reconcile the two theories by assuming that the city was initially founded by the Romans and was then known as Tubartis but later (after a period of disappearance or in a slightly different location for example) it was refounded by the Muslim conquests and named Thubactis. In any case, in the 7th Century, it served as a caravan supply centre. [3] [5] The city still preserves an old part of it with narrow streets dating backing to its early Islamic age. [4]
Importance
Misratah today is a modern prosperous city with light industries (carpets and textiles among many others) and heavy industries (iron and steel industrial complex). The city has a great potential of expansion since it attracts a lot of internal immigration and is surrounded by uninhabited flat land with no obstacles. There is a port in the neighbouring town of Qasr Ahmed.
Although the city has no university, there are several higher education institutions including a number of university faculties that are administratively linked to universities of other cities in Libya (e.g. al-Tahaddi University of Sirt and al-Fateh University of Tripoli).
References
- ^ مصراتة (in Arabic: 'Misratah'). Arabic Wikipedia (2006-11-10). Retrieved on 2006-12-07.
- ^ a b Misratah. The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Columbia University Press (2006). Retrieved on 2006-12-07.
- ^ a b c Misratah. Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. (2006). Retrieved on 2006-12-07.
- ^ a b c Misratah, Libya, Pictures. Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2001. Microsoft Corporation (2001). Retrieved on 2006-12-07.
- ^ a b c Misratah. Encyclopaedia of the Orient (2006). Retrieved on 2006-12-07.
