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Sétif

geography Maturity 11-13 Next article →

Sétif is a major city in eastern Algeria.

Setif city center
Setif city center

It sits in a region called the Hautes Plaines. The city is located east of Algiers and west of Constantine.

Sétif OSM 01
Sétif OSM 01

It is a very important place for trade and industry. There are three industrial zones inside the city borders.

The name Sétif comes from the Latin word "Sitifis." This word comes from a Berber word, "Zdif," which means "black lands." This name describes the fertile soil of the area.

Ain El Fouara - Setif عين الفوارة - سطيف (48374418556)
Ain El Fouara - Setif عين الفوارة - سطيف (48374418556)

Very old things have been found near the city.

National Public Museum of Setif
National Public Museum of Setif

At a site called Aïn Boucherit, scientists found stone tools. These tools are between 1.9 and 2.4 million years old.

Museo di Sétif, Algeria 03
Museo di Sétif, Algeria 03

This makes the site one of the oldest in Africa. Another site, Aïn El Ahnech, is located a few kilometers east. It sits near an ancient lake in Guelta Zerka.

Vue aériene de sétif
Vue aériene de sétif

This area was once a place where early humans lived. Scientists used many ways to date these old remains.

Many different groups have ruled this land through history.

Kingdom of Numidia-02
Kingdom of Numidia-02

First, the area was part of the Phoenician Empire. It then became part of the Berber kingdom of Numidia. The Romans also ruled the area for a long time.

Peutinger-Bida
Peutinger-Bida

They even made Sétif the capital of a province. Later, the Vandals and the Byzantines controlled the region.

Citadelle Byzantine de Sétif 02
Citadelle Byzantine de Sétif 02

The Byzantines built strong fortress walls that people can still see.

Citadelle Byzantine de Sétif 02
Citadelle Byzantine de Sétif 02

After that, the area became part of the Islamic world.

Archaeologists have found many interesting things in the ground.

Jardin à setif 8
Jardin à setif 8

In the city center, you can see Roman ruins.

Jardin Émir Abdelkader 01
Jardin Émir Abdelkader 01

The Romans once built a large circus for people to visit. They also built beautiful bath buildings with colorful mosaics.

The Conquest of India by Dionysus at the archaeological museum of Sétif, ca. 200–300 CE
The Conquest of India by Dionysus at the archaeological museum of Sétif, ca. 200–300 CE

Some ruins include a temple and a mausoleum.

National Public Museum of Setif
National Public Museum of Setif

You can see many of these treasures in the local museum. The museum helps us learn about the people who lived here long ago.

Sétif is a very large and busy place today.

In 2017, the population was about 1,866,845 people.

Setif city center
Setif city center

It is the fifth most populous city in Algeria. The city has many modern things like a tramway and an airport.

Vue de l'exterieur de l'aérogare.
Vue de l'exterieur de l'aérogare.

People use the city for shopping and working in factories.

It remains a vital center for the whole country.

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🖼️ Images & Media (25)
File:Kingdom of Numidia-02.png
Kingdom of Numidia-02.png
File:Jardin à setif 8.JPG
Jardin à setif 8.JPG
File:Diocese of Africa - AD 400.png
Diocese of Africa - AD 400.png
File:Peutinger-Bida.jpg
Peutinger-Bida.jpg
File:Citadelle Byzantine de Sétif 02.jpg
Citadelle Byzantine de Sétif 02.jpg
File:Sétif CoA (French Algeria).svg
Sétif CoA (French Algeria).svg
File:Carte Massacre Sétif, Guelma, Kherrata, 1945.svg
Carte Massacre Sétif, Guelma, Kherrata, 1945.svg
File:Manifestation du 8 mai 1945 à Setif.svg
Manifestation du 8 mai 1945 à Setif.svg
File:Sétif OSM 01.png
Sétif OSM 01.png
File:Setif city center.jpg
Setif city center.jpg
File:Sitifiana actualidad.jpg
Sitifiana actualidad.jpg
File:Jardin Émir Abdelkader 01.jpg
Jardin Émir Abdelkader 01.jpg

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