Tunis

Tunis (ancient Tunes,) city, port, and capital of Tunisia, on the Lake of Tunis, north-east Tunisia. The city is served by a nearby international airport and is connected by rail with other north African ports. A commercial and industrial centre, Tunis has plants producing chemicals, processed foods, and textiles; distilleries are also here. A channel for shipping connects the city with the Mediterranean Sea. The chief exports include carpets, fruit, iron ore, and olives. The city, which occupies an elevated isthmus, is divided into two parts: the old, walled, Muslim quarter and the newer European district. The streets of the old section are narrow and winding, with many well-furnished bazaars and splendid mosques. The Muslim quarter also contains the palace of the bey, or native ruler, which now houses a museum of arts and antiquities; and the Mosque of the Olive Tree (ad 732), which served as an Islamic university. The old part of Tunis—the Medina—was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. The city is also the site of the University of Tunis (1960). Nearby are ruins of the ancient city of Carthage.

Tunis was probably founded as a Phoenician settlement in the 6th century bc but was overshadowed by neighbouring Carthage in ancient times. With Carthage, it was conquered by the Romans in 146 bc. A revived Tunis flourished after the Arabs took control during the 7th-century ad and was especially prominent under the Hafsite dynasty (1228-1574). A combination of trade and piracy kept the city's economy alive during the 17th and 18th centuries. The modern city of Tunis was built while Tunisia was under French rule (1881-1956). During that period the population increased dramatically as thousands of Europeans and Muslims were drawn to the area by growing commercial and industrial facilities. When Tunisia won its independence, Tunis became the capital, and living conditions in the city were improved by an urban redevelopment programme. Population 1,996,000 (2003 estimate).