The Economic and Environmental Factors Influencing the Migration of Barqa Tribes to Egypt During the Qaramanli Era (1711–1835)

Abstract

   This study aims to analyze the economic and environmental factors that drove the Barqa tribes to migrate to Egypt during the Qaramanli rule (1711–1835), while tracing their migration routes, settlement areas, and the impact of this population movement on both the Libyan and Egyptian regions.  The study adopts a historical-analytical methodology by examining official documents, correspondence, court records, travel accounts, and modern academic literature, in order to provide a comprehensive understanding of the conditions that led to this collective migration.  The findings reveal that the migration was neither random nor temporary; rather, it was a necessary response to deteriorating living conditions. Agricultural collapse, commercial stagnation, and heavy taxation created a suffocating economic environment, further exacerbated by environmental disasters such as droughts, famines, and epidemics. In contrast, Egypt under Muhammad Ali Pasha represented an attractive destination due to its relative stability and reform projects, making it a refuge for tribes seeking food security and better economic opportunities..