Maghrebi Jews (in Hebrew Maghrebim מַגּרֶבִּים or מַאגרֶבִּים) are Jews, who traditionally lived in the Maghreb region of North Africa (al-Maghrib, Arabic for "the west") during the Middle Ages. Established Jewish communities existed in North Africa long before the arrival of Sephardic Jews expelled from Spain. The oldest Jewish communities were present during Roman times, and possibly as early as within Punic colonies of the Ancient Carthage period.