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The Atlas
The Atlas is a blog by Kharita, dedicated to exploring topics in geography, history, and geopolitics, without the typical Western spin. We aim to offer fresh, grounded perspectives and welcome contributions from writers around the world, representing a diverse range of experiences and backgrounds.
الأطلس
الأطلس هو مدونة تابعة لـ خريطة، مخصصة لطرح مواضيع في الجغرافيا، والتاريخ، والجغرافيا السياسية، من غير الفلترة أو التحيز الغربي المعتاد. هدفنا هو تقديم رؤى جديدة وواقعية، وبنرحب بمقالات من كُتّاب من مختلف أنحاء العالم، بخلفيات وتجارب متنوعة.
Emotional Geography And The Experience Of The Displaced
There’s a reason why we get homesick; we tend to form emotional attachments to the places we’ve lived all our lives. That’s because our homes are more than just buildings; they are part of who we are. We grow fond of the streets we walk, the markets we shop in, and even the sounds and
Singing Against Silence: Palestinian Music And It’s Fight Against Occupation
Every Palestinian story is a political act. Edward Said In all kinds of peace and war, music is produced and consumed every day. While the colonizer sings the triumphs of their wins, the colonized sing their hopes for triumph. The difference, however, is that the colonizer always tries to silence the colonized. For Palestinians, this
World War II… In Egypt?
It might be surprising to hear that what is now home to beach resorts and mega projects was once a World War II battle ground. El Alamein, a city along the Egyptian Mediterranean coast, approximately 100 km west of Alexandria. Today it is flocked to by holidayers, concert goers, government officials and businessmen, Egyptians and
Baghdad’s Bayt al-Hikma: A Forgotten Beacon of Knowledge
“Bayt al-Hikmah”, “House of Wisdom”, is a central institution in Islamic intellectual history. Some think that it represents the mental transformation that took place in the Islamic world. Bayt al-Hikmah flourished within the Abbasid caliphate between the 8th and 10th centuries. This center played an important role in the intellectual development of a time often
Behind The Border: Rwanda’s Hidden Influence In Eastern Congo
In early 2025, a rapid escalation of fighting occurred in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The M23 (“Mouvement du 23 Mars”), having occupied large areas in North and South Kivu for years. In January 2025, they captured the city of Goma, a key regional hub on the Rwandan border[1]. This event resulted
How Colonialism Redrew Africa’s Map
Maps and power aren’t often paired, but in Africa’s story, they’ve always walked hand in hand. Lines were drawn not to guide, but to divide and rule. Before colonialism, Africa was a thriving continent of kingdoms, empires, and autonomous nations, each governing its affairs according to its customs, laws, and leadership. Territorial boundaries weren’t rigid
The Rise and Fall of Yugoslavia: How One Man Built—and Broke—a Nation
The story of the Rise and Fall of Yugoslavia can be summarised by the rise and death of one man. A man who ruled the country for over four decades, and after his death, the country’s downfall ensued. Before we delve into the story of Yugoslavia, it is essential to understand some basic details about
الأندلس… المجد المفقود
تفتكر إن معلوماتك عن التاريخ الإسلامي كتير؟ لو إجابتك “أيوه”… فهي متوقعة جدًا.أكيد سمعت عن بدايات الإسلام، وعصر الخلفاء الراشدين، والفتوحات، والدول اللي قامت بعد كده زي الأموية، العباسية، والأيوبية… كل القصص اللي اتكررت على وداننا وإحنا صغيرين. لكن الحقيقة؟إن ده مجرد السطح بس.لأن جوا التاريخ ده في حكايات منسية مدهشة، غريبة، ومبهرة.ويمكن دي أكتر
From Pigeons to Protest: The Forgotten Spark of Egyptian Nationalism
If you went to school in Egypt, you probably know the name Denshawai. It might bring back memories of a history lesson. You may recall bullet points from a revision booklet or a multiple-choice question on the subject. The narrative presented was so clear that it might surprise you to hear that it wasn’t the
The Amazigh People in Libya: Indigenous Roots and Modern Struggles
In the hills of Jabal Nafusa, the streets of Zuwara, and the oasis towns of Ghadames and Awjila, the Amazigh flag waves once again. For decades, Libya’s indigenous people were silenced under the Arab nationalist regime. Today, they are slowly writing themselves back into the history of Libya. But what does it mean to be
Reading Between the Lines: What Popular Literature Reveals About Our Borders
Once we come to understand that borders are beyond geography, and the nation-states outlined through them are human-made ideas, it becomes important to ask how people see and feel these changes. It is usually the lives of the elite that get attention, hidden behind political treaties and talks. It is the masses, the subjects of
The History Of the Western Sahara Conflict
In the 19th century, European powers divided Africa among themselves. Spain claimed the Western Sahara in 1884 and named it “the Spanish Sahara”. Located in the northwest of Africa, the territory is bordered by Morocco, Mauritania, and Algeria, and is home to the Sahrawi people. Often referred to as Africa’s last colony, Western Sahara is
How Colonialism Changed Our Borders Forever
Modern nation-states are often thought of in terms of what one might call the “Sleeping Beauty metaphor”, the belief that the nation had always existed, simply awaiting its historical awakening. This metaphor, which gained popularity following the events of the Glorious and French Revolutions, was projected onto colonized states, where such thoughts had never existed.
ايه حوار حلايب وشلاتين؟
وأنا صغير، كان عندي هواية غريبه نوعاً ما وهي إني دايمًا أتابع شريط توقعات درجات الحرارة اللي بيظهر على التلفزيون، واللي كان بيستعرض أحوال الطقس في مختلف مناطق مصر. وسط كل الأسماء اللي كانت بتعدّي، كان في منطقتين دايمًا بيلفتوا انتباهي وبيثيروا فضولي جدًا. وإحنا أطفال، كنا دايمًا فاكرين إن نهاية خريطة مصر بتقف عند
Test Post for WordPress
This is a sample post created to test the basic formatting features of the WordPress CMS. Subheading Level 2 You can use bold text, italic text, and combine both styles. Bullet list item #1 Item with bold emphasis And a link: official WordPress site Step one Step two Step three This content is only for
