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**Book: “Romanization: Romanization and Religion in North Africa”**
**Publisher:** University Publications Office, Algeria, 2018
**Author:** Abdelhamid Imran, Professor of Higher Education
**Specialization:** Ancient History
**Department:** History
**Faculty:** Humanities and Social Sciences
**University:** Mohamed Boudiaf University, M’sila
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Many pagan religions spread in North Africa, both local and foreign, particularly those introduced by the Phoenicians, from Egypt, Greece, and with the Roman occupiers.
It is notable that pagan deities were widespread throughout North Africa, as evidenced by cemeteries and archaeological remains, which include both local deities and those brought with various migrations.
By the mid-second century AD, Christianity began to spread in North Africa, particularly in major urban areas such as Cyrene, Carthage, and then Cirta. It emerged as a monotheistic religion opposed to the worship of the emperor—the official religion of the Roman Empire—leading to hostility from the secular authorities, who used all means to fight and suppress it.
This period was accompanied by widespread persecution of Christians, particularly in Carthage and Cirta. Most of the persecuted were from the poorer segments of Roman society and some locals who embraced the new faith, finding in it their human solace.
Gradually, the foundations of Christianity strengthened as it gained more followers. In contrast, anxiety grew among the rulers of the Roman Empire, who were unable to stop its spread. The growth of Christianity was fueled by those resentful of Roman authority, seeing it as a form of revenge against the Roman occupation, which worked tirelessly to promote emperor worship throughout the empire. However, this does not mean that all the inhabitants of ancient North Africa embraced Christianity. It mainly took root in the major urban centers. This is evidenced by the harsh persecutions that occurred in Carthage, such as the one in “Aptina” in 180 AD.
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