1970s Libya: Fascinating Historical Photos Show Everyday Life Of Libya Under The Qaddafi Rule

Libya was one of the least developed nation in Africa in the 1950s. When oil reserves were discovered in 1959, Colonel Muammar al-Gaddafi abolished the Libyan monarchy and came to power. One of Gaddafi’s immediate policies was to share the wealth with Libyans, and he launched several ambitious social programs in the areas of health, education, housing, public works and provided massive subsidies for electricity and basic foodstuffs. GDP was all-time high under the Gaddafi regime, and the literacy rates were also the lowest in the Libyan history. These policies led to a substantial improvement in the living conditions of Libyans.

In the 1970s, Libya was progressing, and the government nationalized the petroleum industry in the 1970s. The government also started agricultural and industrial development projects to reduce the dependence on oil.

Here below are some stunning historical photos that show what Libya looked like in the 1970s.

#1 Old housing, New flats in the distance behind, Benghazi, 1970s

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#2 Benghazi children, 1970s

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#3 Harbour at the sunset, Benghazi, 1970s

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#4 Benghazi souk, 1970s

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#5 Benghazi street scenes, 1970s

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#6 Benghazi street scenes, 1970s

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#7 Benghazi street scenes, 1970s

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#8 Benghazi street scenes, 1970s

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#9 A cinema poster, Benghazi, 1970s

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#10 A nation of shopkeepers, Benghazi, 1970s

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#11 Children playing, Benghazi, 1970s

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#12 Fishing in harbour, Benghazi, 1970s

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#13 Immigrant labourers stopping for a chat, Benghazi, 1970s

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#14 New flats, Benghazi, 1970s

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#15 New mosque, Benghazi, 1970s

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#16 Outside a cafe, Benghazi, 1970s

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#17 Street market, Benghazi, 1970s

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#18 Street market, Benghazi, 1970s

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#19 Street market, Benghazi, 1970s

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#20 The Corniche, Benghazi, 1970s

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#21 The former Roman Catholic Cathedral and the Gezzira Palace Hotel, , Benghazi, 1970s

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#22 The old lighthouse in the background, Benghazi, 1970s

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#23 Beida at the sunset

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#24 Temple of Apollo, Cyrene, 1970s

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#25 The coast in the far distance, Cyrene, 1970s

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#26 The Graeco Roman ruins of Cyrene In Eastern Libya, Cyrene, 1970s

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#27 The ruins of Cyrene in Eastern Libya, some 70 miles east of Benghazi, Cyrene, 1970s

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#28 Amphitheatre, Leptis Magna, 1970s

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#29 The stage of the Roman amphitheatre, Leptis Magna, 1970s

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#30 Leptis Magna, 1970s

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#31 Sabratha Theatre, 1970s

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#32 Sabratha Theatre, 1970s

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#33 Theatre stage, Sabratha, 1970s

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#34 Seafront, Tripoli, 1970s

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#35 Street scenes, Tripoli, 1970s

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#36 Street scenes, Tripoli, 1970s

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#37 Street scenes, Tripoli, 1970s

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#38 Entrance to the old souk, Tripoli, 1970s

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#39 Gurgi Road, Tripoli, 1970s

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#40 Italian Bank, Tripoli, 1970s

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#41 Old souk with a few oranges and carrots for sale, Tripoli, 1970s

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#42 The castle, Tripoli, 1970s

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#43 The Corniche, Tripoli, 1970s

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#44 The old souk, Tripoli, 1970s

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#45 Town centre, Tripoli, 1970s

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