\paperw4260 \margr0\margl0 \plain \fs20 \f1 \fs24 First landing for travelers from Europe and final destination for the\b \cf2 \ATXht10302 caravans\b0 \cf0 \ATXht0 , the gaily c
olored cities that face the Mediterranean are at once commercial ports and citadels of defense, as can be seen in the fortified \b \i \cf2 \ATXht11803 ribat\i0 \b0 \cf0 \ATXht0 of Sousse and Monastir on the Tunisian coast.\par
First built as military s
tructures in the eighth century, the \i ribat\i0 soon developed into universities and schools of thought. They are considered the highest expression of the pact of faith between Muslims and \b \cf2 \ATXht10105 Allah\b0 \cf0 \ATXht0 , and for this reason
