​During the 15 th century, a movement to translate Greek and Roman books began in Europe. Written Greek and Roman patrimony formed an important intellectual foundation for modern Western civilization. These translations contributed to shaping awareness of the Other and its geography. This paper sheds light on the fifth book of Pliny the Elder's Natural History as a model for ancient sources. It attempts to shape an understanding of the perception he formed of ancient North Africa on both the natural and human levels, through a thematic analysis of the text of the book. Finally, the paper considers how this influenced the formation of the modern West's vision of North Africa and contributed to fuelling its colonial projects.