The oldest traces of civilization in the zone are Punic megaliths and funereal stela. The region was inhabited by nomadic tribes until the Legio III Augusta established a camp at Ammaedara. Through the surrender of the Berber leader Tacfarinas the region was pacified and populated under the Emperor Vespasian and his sons between 67 and 69.
Some inscriptions found in the city suggest that the settlement had success along the lines of others in North Africa during the 2nd century, reaching great prosperity through the olive industry, whose cultivation benefited from excellent climatic conditions in the region. The olive presses found in the ruins of the city further bolster this conclusion. The resulting prosperity made possible the construction of a splendid forum and other important buildings.
The city began to decline during the Late Empire, during which the city was surrounded and occupied by Vandals, a fact that is demonstrated by the appearance of temples dedicated to the barbarian gods.
The arrival of the Byzantines inaugurated a new period of splendor. In 647, the fields before the city were the site of a major battle between the Byzantines and Berbers of Gregory the Patrician and the Rashidun Caliphate's governor of Egypt,Abdullah ibn Saad. The battle ended in a decisive Muslim victory, which shook Byzantine control over the region and signalled the beginning of the Muslim conquest of North Africa.
The battle with Muslim army was under the leadership of the leader (Caliph) Uthman Ibn affan who sent the army under the leadership of Abdullah ibn Saad. At his arrival to Barqa, Uqba Ibn Nafi joined the army with his army and they prepared together the plan to conquest Sbeitla.
The battle was long and hard, for that reason the Caliph Uthman Ibn affan sent reinforcement under the leadership of Abd Allah ibn al-Zubayr. The three leaders prepared a new plan and they succeeded to win the battle
