text: This life, richly depicted in the Tassili n'Ajjer paintings, predominated in Algeria until the classical period.The mixture of peoples of North Africa coalesced eventually into a distinct native population that came to be called Berbers, who are the indigenous peoples of northern Africa.From their principal center of power at Carthage, the Carthaginians expanded and established small settlements along the North African coast; by 600 BC, a Phoenician presence existed at Tipasa, east of Cherchell, Hippo Regius (modern Annaba) and Rusicade (modern Skikda).These settlements served as market towns as well as anchorages.As Carthaginian power grew, its impact on the indigenous population increased dramatically.Berber civilisation was already at a stage in which agriculture, manufacturing, trade, and political organisation supported several states.Trade links between Carthage and the Berbers in the interior grew, but territorial expansion also resulted in the enslavement or military recruitment of some Berbers and in the extraction of tribute from others.By the early 4th century BC, Berbers formed the single largest element of the Carthaginian army.In the Revolt of the Mercenaries, Berber soldiers rebelled from 241 to 238 BC after being unpaid following the defeat of Carthage in the First Punic War.They succeeded in obtaining control of much of Carthage's North African territory, and they minted coins bearing the name Libyan, used in Greek to describe natives of North Africa.The Carthaginian state declined because of successive defeats by the Romans in the Punic Wars.In 146 BC the city of Carthage was destroyed.As Carthaginian power waned, the influence of Berber leaders in the hinterland grew.By the 2nd century BC, several large but loosely administered Berber kingdoms had emerged.Two of them were established in Numidia, behind the coastal areas controlled by Carthage.