This small North African country (pop. 12.3 million) is perhaps most famous as home in classical antiquity to the capital and heartland of the Phoenician-founded Carthaginian Empire, which lasted some 670 years until razed by Rome, and at its height ruled all of coastal North Africa as well as large swaths of present-day Spain and southern Italy. Today, however, it´s only as big as Florida and about two-thirds the size of England
After 75 years under French colonial rule, Tunisia gained independence in 1956 and became known as one of the Muslim world´s more outward looking and progressive societies, Although from 1987 to 2011 it chafed under dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, the “Arab Spring” of 2011brought hope for democracy and change. That´s been tempered under current president Kais Saied, who has restricted civil liberties and centralized authority, but socially Tunisia remains relatively liberal compared with many Arab countries, often compared to Morocco and generally less conservative than Egypt. Women participate widely in public life, and dress varies from Western clothing to traditional apparel, with headscarves common but full-face veils rare. Alcohol is legal and widely available in tourist zones, hotels, restaurants, and licensed shops, though consumption is typically moderate and more restricted during Ramadan.
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