[Modernman]

(4) Until Moslem armies conquered Egypt, they never considered themselves Arabs and they never in all their history considered themselves related to Africa south of Egypt as much as to the Mediterranean peoples and others north of Egypt in the Middle East.

For most of human history, Northern Africa was much more closely tied to Europe than it was to the rest of the African continent. It wasn't until the two forces of Muhammed and later Charlemagne that people started thinking of North Africa as not being a part of Europe.

[blam]

"For most of human history, Northern Africa was much more closely tied to Europe than it was to the rest of the African continent."

Liybans have the same incident for red-hair today as the Irish.