Barca

Barca, a country extending along the northern coast of Africa, between the Great Syrtis (now called the Gulf of Sidra) and Egypt. Bounded on the W. by Tripoli, and on the S. by the Libyan Desert, it is separated from Egypt on the E. by no definite line. It nearly corresponds with the ancient Cyrenaica (q.v.); and a great part of it is a high plateau. The climate is healthy and agreeable in the more elevated parts, which reach a height of almost 2000 feet, and in those exposed to the sea-breeze. There are none but small streams, but the narrow terrace-like tracts of country are extremely fertile, realising all that is said of the ancient Cyrenaica. Rice, dates, olives, saffron, &c. are produced in plenty. The pastures are excellent; the horses still celebrated, as in ancient times. But the good soil extends over only about a fourth of Barca: the east exhibits only naked rocks and loose sand. Many ruins in the north-western parts attest its high state of cultivation in ancient times, when its five prosperous cities bore the title of the Libyan Pentapolis. So early as the time of Cyrus, Barca became a state, which proved dangerous to the neighbouring state of Cyrene; but within a single century it sank, and became subject to Egypt. In the Roman period, its inhabitants were noted for their predatory incursions. It was afterwards a province of the Greek empire, and had declared itself independent when the Arabs invaded and conquered it in 641. The present inhabitants consist of Arabs and Berbers. Barca is sometimes regarded as a department of Tripoli, sometimes as an independent province, governed directly from Constantinople. Its area is about 70,000 sq. m.; and the pop. is estimated at 500,000. The capital is Bengazi (q.v.), after which the province is sometimes named.