The Arab Spring was a series of anti-government protests, uprisings, and armed rebellions that spread across much of the Arab world in the early 2010s.

The movement began in Tunisia in December 2010 when street vendor Mohamed Bouazizi set himself on fire in protest against police corruption.

The protests were fueled by widespread public anger over authoritarian rule, government corruption, economic hardship, and youth unemployment.

Social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter played a crucial role in organizing protests and spreading information, bypassing state-controlled media.

The movement led to the successful overthrow of long-standing dictators in Tunisia (Ben Ali) and Egypt (Hosni Mubarak).

In Libya, the uprising escalated into a civil war that, with NATO intervention, led to the downfall of Muammar Gaddafi.

In other countries, the outcomes varied: a brutal civil war in Syria, major protests in Bahrain and Yemen, and significant reforms in Morocco and Jordan.

The initial optimism of the 'spring' was often followed by a 'political winter,' with many countries experiencing renewed authoritarianism or increased instability.

The Arab Spring demonstrated the power of popular protest to challenge long-entrenched regimes.

It permanently altered the political landscape of the Middle East and North Africa.