By Tim Lambert
8,000 BC
People in Tunisia live by hunting and gathering
5,000 BC
People in Tunisia live by farming
1100 BC
The Phoenicians settle and trade in Tunisia
c 480 BC
The Phoenicians found Carthage in Tunisia
263-241 BC
Carthage fights Rome
218-202 BC
Carthage fights Rome again but is defeated
149-143 BC
A third war ends with the destruction of Carthage. However the Romans build a new city of Carthage.
439 AD
Carthage is captured by the Vandals
533 AD
Carthage is captured by the Eastern Roman Empire (the Byzantine Empire)
698
The Arabs take Carthage
909
The Fatimids take power in Tunisia
921
The Fatimids found Mahida
1148
The Normans capture Mahida
1159
The Almohads capture Tunis
1574
The Ottoman Turks capture Tunisia
1655
The English bombard Porto Farina
1705
Hussain Ibn Ali begins the Hussainid dynasty
1881
Tunisia becomes a French protectorate
1956
Tunisia becomes independent
1964
Oil is discovered in Tunisia
1987
Ben Ali becomes leader of Tunisia
2011
After demonstrations Ben Ali is forced to flee Tunisia
2014
A new constitution is adopted
