The location of the Kingdom of Mauritania and the characteristics of its borders in the ancient sources

Abstract

The significance of studying lies in getting to know the ancient sources that refer to the location of the Kingdom of Mauritania and its geographical features, including seas, rivers, and mountains. This study highlights the importance of this site and its role in the historical development of the Kingdom of Mauritania, and its impact on the fate of the entire ancient Maghreb region. The research paper poses the question if the ancient sources paid sufficient attention to the site of Mauritania or whether the opposite was true. This question raises several sub-questions including: whether these sources agreed on the accurate location or if there were discrepancies among them. What did they say about its characteristics? Can these sources help resolve the enigma of the southern borders of the Kingdom? What did the sources reveal about Rome's plans in demarcating the Kingdom's borders?

     The research paper concludes that the ancient sources unanimously place the Kingdom of  Mauritania in the western part of the Libyan continent, which is the furthest point in the ancient Maghreb. The northern and western borders of the Kingdom were clearly defined, as ancient texts agreed that the Mediterranean Sea represented its northern boundary, while the Atlantic Ocean formed its western boundary. The eastern borders were determined by rivers such as the Moulouya, Saldae or Chelef, and Ampsaga, and the southern boundary extended to the Atlas Mountains and the areas where the Gaetuli tribes resided. The study also revealed Rome's role in implementing its plans in the Mauritania through its intervention in demarcating the Kingdom's borders to serve its interests and secure its southwest imperial borders.