Figure 1.--Here we see Libyan boys playing with what looks like a discarded tin can. We are not sure when this and a group of similar images were taken, perhaps the late-1930s. But we think it may have been taken in the early-40s during the fighting in the Westen Desert. The can may have been digarded by the militaries involved. We know the photographer was a German, but have not been able to find much information about him. We do know that his Lbyan work was being sold in NAZI Germany, we think during the War. Photographer: H. Schlösser.

We do not yet have much information on children's activities in Libya. We have an image of Libyan boys playing. We are not sure just what they are doing, but it looks like they are using a tin can to play in the sand. There is no soubt that Libyan kids had one big advantage over many other kids--one huge sand box. . For the most part Libyans were very poor which of course affects activities, including school attendance. School for mamy children especially since the 19th century has been a major activity for children. This has not been the case for Arab children and Libya in this regard was especially backward. Very few Libyan children attenaned school until after World War II. The Italians did open school, but primarily for Italian colonists. With independence and the oil money this changed. It is difficult to see, however, any major positive impact that has accrued to Libya. Religion as an importnt activity. The population is almost entirely Muslim. As in other Arab countries, any assesment of the country's life is incomplete without looking varey carefully at religion, meaning fundamentally Islam. Until after World War II there were smaller Chistian and Jewish communities.

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Created: 6:52 PM 12/28/2016
Last updated: 6:52 PM 12/28/2016