ABSTRACT
In the case of Tunisia the Sahel is the coastal plain on the eastern side of the country that is itself an edge or fringe. To the south of the Tunisian Sahel is desert and to the north is a wetter climate. The study of Tunisia and of the Tunisian Sahel is the study not just of a particular region but of a wider geography that has links to Europe, to the Middle East and to a certain extent to Africa. The field-based study of the Tunisian Sahel provides students with opportunities to study physical and human environments representative more generally: such environments include semi-arid environments, Islam, Arab countries, former French colonies, middle income countries and margin countries. Continuity in Tunisia is striking: Sousse, Kairouan, Monastir and El Djem all show their past to the visitor in ways that are both brash and subtle. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.
