Timeline / 1820 to 1920 / TUNISIA

Date Country Theme

1830 Tunisia Political Context

With the capture of Algiers, France ousts the Ottoman Empire and asserts its claim to the western Mediterranean. The beys and the regency’s elite then become aware of the dangers posed by the Europeans.

1830 - 1880 Tunisia Cities And Urban Spaces

Tunis is a cosmopolitan city. According to M. J. Henry Dunant, when visiting the regency in 1856, he noted that: “more than 15 Christian nations are represented by a number of their nationals in Tunis”.

1837 - 1854 Tunisia Political Context

Rule of Ahmad Pasha Bey, known as the “Great Reformer” of modern Tunisia. His greatest achievements include modernisation of the army and the abolition of slavery.

1837 - 1855 Tunisia Reforms And Social Changes

Ahmad Pasha Bey is known as the “Great Reformer” of modern Tunisia. Enlightened and open-minded, he tries to modernise both State and Army.

1837 - 1840 Tunisia Reforms And Social Changes

Foundation of the Polytechnic or military school of Bardo, responsible for the education of executives of the army and public administration. The School provides education in the art of military strategy, scientific disciplines, foreign languages, literature and religion.

1840 - 1880 Tunisia Rediscovering The Past

Abbot Bourgade and Father Delattre excavate the Punic and Roman ruins of Carthage and then set up the first archaeological collections of the Saint Louis Museum in Carthage and the Alaoui Museum in Bardo.

1840 - 1855 Tunisia Travelling

Khayr al-Din, the reforming minister of Tunisia, conducts various missions in Europe and to the Sublime Porte (Sublime Gate), the honorific title used for Istanbul during the Ottoman Empire.

1842 Tunisia Reforms And Social Changes

Educational reform and restructuring of the Zaytuna Mosque through the introduction of new disciplines and incentives for teachers in Tunisia.

1846 Tunisia Travelling Date Country Theme

Ahmad Pasha Bey is received by King Louis Philippe at the Tuileries Palace. He stays at the Élysée Palace. He visits the parliament, the Hôtel des invalids, Napoleon’s tomb and the Palace of Versailles.

1846 - 1856 Tunisia Travelling

A period of intense diplomatic activity between the Regency of Tunis and Western governments, which sees 20 diplomatic or consular agencies in Europe and the East represent the regency.

1846 Tunisia Reforms And Social Changes

Ahmad Pasha Bey promulgates a decree freeing all black slaves in the country. Everyone born in Tunisia is declared free regardless of their parents’ origins.

1847 - 1848 Tunisia Great Inventions Of The 19th Century

Following creation of, in the Regency of Tunis, the first mail-distribution system, the first aerial telegraph system is inaugurated connecting the Bardo, official headquarters of the Bey’s government, with Tunis and La Goulette.

1854 Tunisia Travelling

A contingent of the Tunisian army is called upon to participate alongside the Ottoman Empire, France and England in the Crimean War.

1857 Tunisia Political Context

Promulgation of the Fundamental Pact by Muhammad Pasha Bey: a “Declaration of Rights” in 11 points. The pact guarantees Tunisians and also foreigners their civil and political rights, security of persons and properties, equality before the law, etc.

1857 Tunisia Reforms And Social Changes

Promulgation of the Fundamental Pact by Muhammad Pasha Bey: a “Declaration of Rights” in 11 points. The pact guarantees Tunisians and also foreigners their civil and political rights, security of persons and properties, equality before the law, etc.

1858 Tunisia Cities And Urban Spaces

Under the reign of Muhammad Pasha Bey a major reform is carried out: the capital, Tunis, is established as a municipal town and a city council is elected. Further municipal towns were created in other parts of the country: Sfax, Sousse and Kairouan among others.

1860 - 1900 Tunisia Cities And Urban Spaces

Following development of the Port of La Goulette, new districts relating to trade and industrial activities are born. The neighbourhood is given the name of “Little Sicily”, which is suggestive of its role as host to a poor immigrant population mainly from southern Italy. Date Country Theme

1860 - 1863 Tunisia Economy And Trade

Restoration of the Zaghouan Aqueduct, Tunisia’s largest water-service network, allows supply to the capital and its suburbs.

1860 Tunisia Great Inventions Of The 19th Century

The restoration of the Aqueduct of Zaghouan is completed, running water arrives in Tunis.

1861 Tunisia Political Context

Muhammad Sadiq Bey promulgates a constitution limiting his powers. Tunisia’s first constitution is the culmination of the reformist policies of the 19th-century Husaynid beys.

1864 Tunisia Political Context

The popular uprising sounds the death knell for reform. The great figure of this insurrection, ‘Ali bin Ghedham, comes from the region of Kasserine.

1872 - 1874 Tunisia Cities And Urban Spaces

The city of Tunis benefits from the first installation of public street lighting. An English company builds a gasometer and installs the pipelines necessary to supply gas for street lighting of the city’s main arteries.

1873 - 1877 Tunisia Economy And Trade

Khayr al-Din undertakes reform of the Tunisian economy.

1873 - 1877 Tunisia Political Context

The regency of Khayr al-Din, the Grand Vizier reformer, who reorganises institutions and the economy. His major cultural works are the creation of Sadiki College and major reform of the Zaytuna Mosque.

1875 Tunisia Reforms And Social Changes

The creation of Sadiki College based on a modern concept of education: the school separates from the mosque and a distinction is made between educational structures and those of the religious life.

1875 Tunisia Rediscovering The Past

The Saint Louis Museum in Carthage is founded in the former seminary of the White Fathers.

1880 - 1914 Tunisia Migrations

Italian and French farmers settle in agricultural areas of the Regency of Tunis. Date Country Theme

1880 - 1890 Tunisia Fine And Applied Arts

It was the era of eclecticism. The French Protectorate builds the regency’s infrastructure in the European classical tradition, constructing monuments in the impressive Greco-Roman style.

1881 - 1920 Tunisia Economy And Trade

Crises, both within the country’s social structures and the national economy, are the result of the protectorate’s grip over all the regency’s administration.

1881 - 1883 Tunisia Political Context

At the metropolitan palace, Muhammad Sadiq Bey signs the treaty imposed by the French Protectorate known as the Treaty of Bardo (or Treaty of Kasser al-Sa‘id). This is followed by the Convention of Marsa in 1883. The Regency of Tunis passes from Ottoman suzerainty to French domination.

1881 - 1884 Tunisia Political Context

Tunisians put up stiff resistance to French occupation without any external support. The Sublime Porte, itself threatened by the Western powers, limits the show of protest against the French occupation.

1882 Tunisia Rediscovering The Past

The Alaoui Museum is founded in the bey’s palace in Bardo, in a wing of the complex formerly used to host the bey’s harem.

1882 Tunisia Migrations

Inauguration of the new Catholic Cathedral in Tunis, designed in the monumental Greco-Roman style, in line with the image France intends to convey in the early days of its protectorate over the regency.

1886 Tunisia Travelling

Muhammad Sadiq Bey on a visit to Algiers is received by Napoleon III.

1888 - 1893 Tunisia Economy And Trade

Completion of the Port of La Goulette. After five years in construction, the port complex opens to trade on 28 May 1893.

1888 - 1892 Tunisia Great Inventions Of The 19th Century

Establishment of the Tunisian Post and Telegraphs Office; during this time the first Tunisian postage stamp was issued and the Hôtel des postes (Post Office building) was inaugurated in Tunis.

1888 - 1893 Tunisia Great Inventions Of The 19th Century Date Country Theme

Completion of the Port of La Goulette; a large, modern complex accessible to large vessels, brings development to the city of Tunis.

1890 - 1900 Tunisia Fine And Applied Arts

Construction of public and private buildings in the arabisance style, which proposes a synthesis of European architectural styles with Arab and Spanish-North African architecture.

1890 - 1910 Tunisia Migrations

Emergence of a new European-inspired city outside the Arab medina with a multitude of buildings built in the European style.

1890 - 1920 Tunisia Cities And Urban Spaces

The 20th century is undoubtedly one of urbanisation. Outside the Arab medina a new city develops to host the many Europeans who have arrived to promote development of the colonial economy.

1891 Tunisia Economy And Trade

Monetary reform: the administration of the protectorate decides to replace the Tunisian monetary unit the “piastre” with the French Franc.

1892 - 1914 Tunisia Economy And Trade

Development of a railway network connecting the city of Tunis with its hinterland.

1892 - 1914 Tunisia Great Inventions Of The 19th Century

Development of the railway network connects the city of Tunis with its hinterland. The network serves the large cities by connecting them with the agricultural centres created by colonisation.

1893 Tunisia Reforms And Social Changes

Creation of the first analytical laboratory as part of the services that later became the Pasteur Institute, initially providing a rabies treatment service, and then offering a vaccination centre.

1896 Tunisia Reforms And Social Changes

Creation of Khaldunia. The purpose of this institution located near the Zaytuna Mosque was to spread scientific knowledge among the Arab communities, and especially among students of Zaytuna University. Its name refers to the great Arab thinker Ibn Khaldun.

1897 Tunisia Reforms And Social Changes

Creation of the French civil hospital provides a surgery and two general medical services to meet the needs of the European population from the outset. Date Country Theme

1900 - 1910 Tunisia Migrations

The colonial era: social and cultural life are organised around Europeans striving for modernity and accustomed to the cultural life of European cities; hence construction of theatres, hotels, casinos, etc.

1900 - 1920 Tunisia Fine And Applied Arts

Art Nouveau marks the city’s landscape.

1906 Tunisia Rediscovering The Past

The Archaeological Museum of Sfax is established in one of the city’s hotels.

1907 - 1912 Tunisia Political Context

The Young Tunisians found the first French-language newspaper Le Tunisien. Echoes of their militant action are seen in the riots of Djellaz on 11 November 2011 and the tramway accident on 8 February 1912.

1908 Tunisia Reforms And Social Changes

The School of Pasha Street, the first school for Muslim girls, opens in Tunis.

1920 Tunisia Political Context

The first Tunisian political party is established as the Constitutional Liberal Party of Tunisia: “Le destour’’. In a pamphlet published anonymously in Paris, one of its founders, Abdelaziz al-Thalibi, specified the party’s demands.