Muammar Gaddafi was born in a tent near Qasr Abu Hadi, a rural area outside the town of Sirte in the deserts of western Libya. His family came from a small, relatively un-influential tribal group called the Qadhadhfa, who were Arabized Berber in heritage. His father, Mohammad Abdul Salam bin Hamed bin Mohammad, was known as Abu Meniar (died 1985), and his mother was named Aisha (died 1978); Abu Meniar earned a meager subsistence as a goat and camel herder. Nomadic Bedouins, they were illiterate and kept no birth records. As such, Gaddafi's date of birth is not known with certainty, and sources have set it in 1942 or in the spring of 1943, although biographers Blundy and Lycett noted that it could have been pre-1940. His parents' only surviving son, he had three older sisters. Gaddafi's upbringing in Bedouin culture influenced his personal tastes for the rest of his life. He repeatedly expressed a preference for the desert over the city and retreated to the desert to meditate. COUNT 15
QSN1 Describe Gaddafi's humble upbringing. ANS1 was born in a tent near Qasr Abu Hadi, a rural area outside the town of Sirte in the deserts of western Libya QSN2 How did Gaddafi's father earn a living? ANS2 as a goat and camel herder QSN3 How did his upbringing impact his later life preferences? ANS3 He repeatedly expressed a preference for the desert over the city and retreated to the desert to meditate. QSN4 What culture did Gaddafi experience as a child? ANS4 Bedouin QSN5 When was Gaddafi born? ANS5 Gaddafi's date of birth is not known with certainty, and sources have set it in 1942 or in the spring of 1943 QSN6 Describe Gaddafi's early childhood. ANS6 Gaddafi was born in a tent near Qasr Abu Hadi, a rural area outside the town of Sirte in the deserts of western Libya QSN7 How did Gaddafi's father earn a living? ANS7 Abu Meniar earned a meager subsistence as a goat and camel herder QSN8 How come no one knows for sure when Gaddafi was born? ANS8 Nomadic Bedouins, they were illiterate and kept no birth records QSN9 How did his early childhood experiences impact his later life? ANS9 He repeatedly expressed a preference for the desert over the city and retreated to the desert to meditate. QSN10 When did Gaddafi's parents die? ANS10 His father, Mohammad Abdul Salam bin Hamed bin Mohammad, was known as Abu Meniar (died 1985), and his mother was named Aisha (died 1978) QSN11 Other than Mohammad Abdul Salam bin Hamed bin Mohammad, what was Gaddafi's father called? ANS11 Abu Meniar QSN12 When did Gaddafi's mother die? ANS12 1978 QSN13 How many sisters did Gaddafi have? ANS13 three QSN14 Near what town was Gaddafi's birthplace of Qasr Abu Hadi? ANS14 Sirte QSN15 What was the name of Gaddafi's tribe? ANS15 Qadhadhfa