L'histoire d'Algérie 1830 - 1962

[Al-khiyal]

Al Khiyal

The nice link you gave regarding Algeria in its ancient state, is very interesting however the majority of books in there are written by French authors, I wouldn't give it much importance because there are many who have been trying to rewrite history their own ways, plus I don't think it's wise to take from Westerners regarding our own history, they don't understand things thoroughly, they did not understand us when they were there, thus, I believe they cannot understand us right now, nor our culture, traditions or history... That's my take on things but thanks a lot for your efforts ^_^

In the desert it is very useful to know and to understand how a snake operates, sa7?

[Jazaireya4ever]

In the desert it is very useful to know and to understand how a snake operates, sa7?

Yeah, but a snake remains a snake after all ^_^ thus, the name... snake
...somehow misguiding...

[Al-khiyal]

Nobody said anything about liking it......

But seriously, in terms of the historical record, sometimes the accounts of the French (and other visitors), - with all their bias and cultural ignorance - are the only surviving snapshots of particular times and places. They still have a value in terms of the facts that they disclose, the mindset and prejudices they reveal, etc. In the absence of 'native records' of certain events and times that they describe sometimes they provide the only window we have onto the past and there can be nuggets of useful information here and there among the accounts. Where 'native records' do exist, differing accounts of the same incident can tell us a lot about the (sometimes mutual) incomprehension of realities, intentions, 'progress' etc. And in the absence of Algerian accounts they have a certain value in revealing aspects of what the Algerian people had to endure.

[Jazaireya4ever]

I'd personally say that yes you're right since they burnt entire libraries out and were telling to school pupils that they were "French" and tried to put in them this patriotic feeling that should go to "mother France". Failing in most cases, since the Gladiators of the Desert do not forget their roots

It reminds me of a quote from one famous Russian thinker, if I remember well who said, "you cannot corrupt a people that does not want to be corrupted."

But hmm, I'd say yes they are the only door somehow to information but concerning me, they are more misguiding than anything else, do they even know the names of their own dads by the way... ehm

[mohovitch]

Here is an interesting documentary about french rule in Algeria: video les 3 couleurs de l'empire - tele, docu - video kewego

[mohovitch]

I wish there are some pieds noir here to post in this thread.

[mohovitch]

This looks like a nice documentary:
Documentaire Mémoire Sétif - extrait 1 on Vimeo
Documentaire Mémoire Sétif - extrait 2 on Vimeo