The Arab Spring was a series of pro-democracy uprisings that swept across the Middle East and North Africa from 2010 to 2012. The uprisings were sparked by a combination of long-standing grievances, including economic hardship, political repression, and a lack of representation in government. The protests began in Tunisia in December 2010, and soon spread to other countries, including Egypt, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Bahrain, and beyond.