How significant were Somali Kingdoms/Sultanates?

[RedStar]

I've realised that Somali states are never mentioned by mainstream African historians, why is that? Were they insignificant? Why is Great Zimbabwe or the Kongo kingdom more talked about than the Ajuuraan or Adal?

Somali states are always omitted from maps of African civilisations as well. Check these out

There are many other maps like these. @James Dahl @Grant @MARAQ DIGAAG @SultanuuFicaan and all the other sspot historians let's discuss this.

 

[Awoowe]

Adal empire was very significant, is probably not mentioned a lot because the Somali history has not been written most likely because they were illiterate people back then who relied more on poems and mouth of word.

 

[Crow]

We are not mentioned because of anti-Cushitism coupled with Islamophobia. Afro centrists and pan Africans are 99% AA so they look at the continent through that lens. This leads to the worship of Ethiopia and total neglect of the Mali Empire as well as the Somali kingdoms. This is also the source of the obsession with Egypt.

Our history is mostly oral like @Awoowe said but the cities had scribes and scholars. They did write things down and kept records. The problem is, Italians stole a lot of that stuff and the original documents are all in Arabic.

There's a lot of history and papers written in Italian and Arabic that we have to take back.

 

[World]

We are not mentioned because of anti-Cushitism coupled with Islamophobia. Afro centrists and pan Africans are 99% AA so they look at the continent through that lens. This leads to the worship of Ethiopia and total neglect of the Mali Empire as well as the Somali kingdoms. This is also the source of the obsession with Egypt.

Our history is mostly oral like @Awoowe said but the cities had scribes and scholars. They did write things down and kept records. The problem is, Italians stole a lot of that stuff and the original documents are all in Arabic.

There's a lot of history and papers written in Italian and Arabic that we have to take back.

The Adal Empire had a lot of large cities with populations in the tens of thousands. Between Harar and Saylac lays tens of ancient towns and cities that were deserted and now lie in ruin. The collapse of the Adal Empire meant that the only knowledge we have about it is from foreign sources.

 

[James Dahl]

People just don't know about it, the Sudanese kingdoms are also not there for the same reason. East African medieval history is very obscure.

 

[government]

People just don't know about it, the Sudanese kingdoms are also not there for the same reason. East African medieval history is very obscure.

It's not like there are no sources about it countless Arabic papers talk about somali sultanates

 

[Kafir]

People just don't know about it, the Sudanese kingdoms are also not there for the same reason. East African medieval history is very obscure.

A lot of the civilizations shown in the maps here are probably even more obscure than the Somali ones. Is Adal really more obscure than the Bachwezi?

 

[Grant]

Comprehensive article on all the sultanates.


https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-hccc-worldcivilization/chapter/the-sultanates-of-somalia/

"Key Points

• During the Middle Ages, Somalia’s territory witnessed the emergence and decline of several powerful sultanates that dominated the regional trade. At no point was the region centralized as one state, and the development of all the sultanates was linked to the central role that Islam played in the area since the 7th century.
• The Sultanate of Mogadishu was an important trading empire that lasted from the 10th century to the 16th century. It maintained a vast trading network, dominated the regional gold trade, minted its own Mogadishu currency, and left an extensive architectural legacy in present-day southern Somalia.
• The Ajuran Sultanate ruled over large parts of the Horn of Africa between the 13th and late 17th centuries. Through a strong centralized administration and an aggressive military stance towards invaders, it successfully resisted an Oromo invasion from the west and a Portuguese incursion from the east. It left an extensive architectural and engineering legacy.
• The Warsangali Sultanate was a kingdom centered in northeastern and in some parts of southeastern Somalia. It was one of the largest sultanates ever established in the territory.
• The Sultanate of Ifat was a medieval Muslim Sultanate in the Horn of Africa. Led by the Walashma dynasty, it was centered in the ancient cities of Zeila and Shewa. The Kingdom ruled over parts of what are now eastern Ethiopia, Djibouti, and northern Somalia. Ifat first emerged in the 13th century, when Sultan Umar Walashma conquered the Sultanate of Showa in 1285. The Adal Sultanate or Kingdom of Adal was founded after the fall of the Sultanate of Ifat. It flourished from around 1415 to 1577.
• Following the Middle Ages and Early Modern period, Arab sultanates continued to dominate the region until it fell under the colonial control of Europeans in the 19th century."

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Adal was a conglomerate state with an Afar base. The Harari, who are regarded as the inheritors of the culture, are classed as Ethio-Semitic. The first mention of "Somali" is 15th century.

The Sultanate of Mogadishu was Arab dominated until the Yaquub Abgaal took over about 1624. Fakr ad-Din was a relative of Arab Saint Abadir of Harar. The later Muzzaffar rulers from Yemen had to employ translaters to communicate with the Hawiyye, who were excluded from the city after dark.

The Ajuraan were an inland-oriented Imaamate with dual centers at Merka and Qallafo. The alliance with the Mogadisho Sultanate came late. Reer Imaam claims descent from the Arab Balad, but in fact ruled over an ever-shifting Hawiyye confederation, which abandoned them once the Oromo and Portuguese threats were past.
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I find it notable that Ahmed Gurey won at Shimbra Kure because the Ottoman cannon panicked the Ethiopian army, and that he lost at Wayna Daga when he was killed by a Portuguese musketeer. Arabs, Ethiopians, Portuguese, Brits, Italians, Russians: it always seems to be outsiders; which may or may not answer your question.

 

[Merchant of Mogadishu]

I would say the ancient Somali city states and Somali sultanates were very significant when it came to trade in the Indian Ocean and beyond.

 

[government]

Comprehensive article on all the sultanates.


https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-hccc-worldcivilization/chapter/the-sultanates-of-somalia/

"Key Points

• During the Middle Ages, Somalia’s territory witnessed the emergence and decline of several powerful sultanates that dominated the regional trade. At no point was the region centralized as one state, and the development of all the sultanates was linked to the central role that Islam played in the area since the 7th century.
• The Sultanate of Mogadishu was an important trading empire that lasted from the 10th century to the 16th century. It maintained a vast trading network, dominated the regional gold trade, minted its own Mogadishu currency, and left an extensive architectural legacy in present-day southern Somalia.
• The Ajuran Sultanate ruled over large parts of the Horn of Africa between the 13th and late 17th centuries. Through a strong centralized administration and an aggressive military stance towards invaders, it successfully resisted an Oromo invasion from the west and a Portuguese incursion from the east. It left an extensive architectural and engineering legacy.
• The Warsangali Sultanate was a kingdom centered in northeastern and in some parts of southeastern Somalia. It was one of the largest sultanates ever established in the territory.
• The Sultanate of Ifat was a medieval Muslim Sultanate in the Horn of Africa. Led by the Walashma dynasty, it was centered in the ancient cities of Zeila and Shewa. The Kingdom ruled over parts of what are now eastern Ethiopia, Djibouti, and northern Somalia. Ifat first emerged in the 13th century, when Sultan Umar Walashma conquered the Sultanate of Showa in 1285. The Adal Sultanate or Kingdom of Adal was founded after the fall of the Sultanate of Ifat. It flourished from around 1415 to 1577.
• Following the Middle Ages and Early Modern period, Arab sultanates continued to dominate the region until it fell under the colonial control of Europeans in the 19th century."

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Adal was a conglomerate state with an Afar base. The Harari, who are regarded as the inheritors of the culture, are classed as Ethio-Semitic. The first mention of "Somali" is 15th century.

The Sultanate of Mogadishu was Arab dominated until the Yaquub Abgaal took over about 1624. Fakr ad-Din was a relative of Arab Saint Abadir of Harar. The later Muzzaffar rulers from Yemen had to employ translaters to communicate with the Hawiyye, who were excluded from the city after dark.

The Ajuraan were an inland-oriented Imaamate with dual centers at Merka and Qallafo. The alliance with the Mogadisho Sultanate came late. Reer Imaam claims descent from the Arab Balad, but in fact ruled over an ever-shifting Hawiyye confederation, which abandoned them once the Oromo and Portuguese threats were past.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I find it notable that Ahmed Gurey won at Shimbra Kure because the Ottoman cannon panicked the Ethiopian army, and that he lost at Wayna Daga when he was killed by a Portuguese musketeer. Arabs, Ethiopians, Portuguese, Brits, Italians, Russians: it always seems to be outsiders; which may or may not answer your question.

Warsangali sultanate was Somali and one of the longest raging sultanates in Somalia same with ajuraan mogdisho was ruled by a mix elite class of Somalis and Arabs
And adal is regarded by many historians as a Somali sultanate with a significant harari and afar influence

 

[embarassing]

Warsangali sultanate was Somali and one of the longest raging sultanates in Somalia same with ajuraan mogdisho was ruled by a mix elite class of Somalis and Arabs
And adal is regarded by many historians as a Somali sultanate with a significant harari and afar influence

Grant is anti-Somali and works overtime to undermine, dont take it seriously.

 

[RedStar]

We are not mentioned because of anti-Cushitism coupled with Islamophobia. Afro centrists and pan Africans are 99% AA so they look at the continent through that lens. This leads to the worship of Ethiopia and total neglect of the Mali Empire as well as the Somali kingdoms. This is also the source of the obsession with Egypt.

Our history is mostly oral like @Awoowe said but the cities had scribes and scholars. They did write things down and kept records. The problem is, Italians stole a lot of that stuff and the original documents are all in Arabic.

There's a lot of history and papers written in Italian and Arabic that we have to take back.

Anti-Cushitism?
I wasn't talking about black youtube suugo quackastorians when I said African historians.

People just don't know about it, the Sudanese kingdoms are also not there for the same reason. East African medieval history is very obscure.

Like @Kafir and @government said, it doesn't make sense that states that are more obscure than the Somali states made it on the maps. If they were as influential Somalis swear they were, then they should have had more recognition.

 

[RedStar]

Comprehensive article on all the sultanates.


https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-hccc-worldcivilization/chapter/the-sultanates-of-somalia/

"Key Points

• During the Middle Ages, Somalia’s territory witnessed the emergence and decline of several powerful sultanates that dominated the regional trade. At no point was the region centralized as one state, and the development of all the sultanates was linked to the central role that Islam played in the area since the 7th century.
• The Sultanate of Mogadishu was an important trading empire that lasted from the 10th century to the 16th century. It maintained a vast trading network, dominated the regional gold trade, minted its own Mogadishu currency, and left an extensive architectural legacy in present-day southern Somalia.
• The Ajuran Sultanate ruled over large parts of the Horn of Africa between the 13th and late 17th centuries. Through a strong centralized administration and an aggressive military stance towards invaders, it successfully resisted an Oromo invasion from the west and a Portuguese incursion from the east. It left an extensive architectural and engineering legacy.
• The Warsangali Sultanate was a kingdom centered in northeastern and in some parts of southeastern Somalia. It was one of the largest sultanates ever established in the territory.
• The Sultanate of Ifat was a medieval Muslim Sultanate in the Horn of Africa. Led by the Walashma dynasty, it was centered in the ancient cities of Zeila and Shewa. The Kingdom ruled over parts of what are now eastern Ethiopia, Djibouti, and northern Somalia. Ifat first emerged in the 13th century, when Sultan Umar Walashma conquered the Sultanate of Showa in 1285. The Adal Sultanate or Kingdom of Adal was founded after the fall of the Sultanate of Ifat. It flourished from around 1415 to 1577.
• Following the Middle Ages and Early Modern period, Arab sultanates continued to dominate the region until it fell under the colonial control of Europeans in the 19th century."

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Adal was a conglomerate state with an Afar base. The Harari, who are regarded as the inheritors of the culture, are classed as Ethio-Semitic. The first mention of "Somali" is 15th century.

The Sultanate of Mogadishu was Arab dominated until the Yaquub Abgaal took over about 1624. Fakr ad-Din was a relative of Arab Saint Abadir of Harar. The later Muzzaffar rulers from Yemen had to employ translaters to communicate with the Hawiyye, who were excluded from the city after dark.

The Ajuraan were an inland-oriented Imaamate with dual centers at Merka and Qallafo. The alliance with the Mogadisho Sultanate came late. Reer Imaam claims descent from the Arab Balad, but in fact ruled over an ever-shifting Hawiyye confederation, which abandoned them once the Oromo and Portuguese threats were past.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I find it notable that Ahmed Gurey won at Shimbra Kure because the Ottoman cannon panicked the Ethiopian army, and that he lost at Wayna Daga when he was killed by a Portuguese musketeer. Arabs, Ethiopians, Portuguese, Brits, Italians, Russians: it always seems to be outsiders; which may or may not answer your question.

Do you have the evidence to back your claim that Mogadishu was ruled by Arabs till the 17th century or that Adal was an Afar Kingdom?

Also what do you mean by the highlighted part? Seems a bit weird to add that on the end.

 

[Crow]

I would say the ancient Somali city states and Somali sultanates were very significant when it came to trade in the Indian Ocean and beyond.

Especially when you consider that Somalia was the gate to Africa for countless Indian and Chinese sailors.

 

[Crow]

Do you have the evidence to back your claim that Mogadishu was ruled by Arabs till the 17th century or that Adal was an Afar Kingdom?

Also what do you mean by the highlighted part? Seems a bit weird to add that on the end.

Embarassing is right. This user has an agenda that he pushes with every one of his posts. I would take anything written by him with a grain of salt.

Let's see his "evidence".

 

[RedStar]

Embarassing is right. This user has an agenda that he pushes with every one of his posts. I would take anything written by him with a grain of salt.

Let's see his "evidence".

I tagged @Grant since he obviously knows a lot about Somali history, despite the countless bogus websites he likes to use as proof, I want to hear his take on this subject as well.

 

[embarassing]

I tagged @Grant since he obviously knows a lot about Somali history, despite the countless bogus websites he likes to use as proof, I want to hear his take on this subject as well.

If you go through his posts you'll notice the clear anti-Somali trend.
He usually keeps to history and genetics but he once stepped out of it to comment on a thread about Somalis who were killed by Oromos. Just to post something about Somalis attacking oromos (seemed to be suggesting they deserved it). Idk why but he's against anything Somali.

 

[Grant]

Embarassing is right. This user has an agenda that he pushes with every one of his posts. I would take anything written by him with a grain of salt.

Let's see his "evidence".

Here's for Mog:

https://xaqdoon.wordpress.com/2009/08/29/yaquub-sultanate/

"Cerulli has recorded traditional narrative of how the Darandole conquered Mogadishu against the Muzaffar dynasty:

“In ancient times the Sirasi lived in Mogadiscio. The people called Halawani succeeded the Sirasi. The Mudaffar succeeded the Halawani. The Mudaffar came from the country of Yemen in Arabia. He had guns. He built the palace that is found under the Governor’s house. He was a friend of the Aguran. At that time the Mudaffar governed the coast; and the Aguran ruled in the woodland.

“Later the Mudaffar had an interpreter who was called ‘Ismankäy Haggi ‘Ali. This ‘Ismankäy had the idea of letting the Darandollä enter the city. A message was sent to the imam Mahmud ‘Umar, who lived at Golol. The imam, guiding his warriors, came south and approached Mogadiscio. Then what did ‘Ismankäy do? He spoke with the Mudaffar: ‘By now the Darandollä are near Mogadiscio, let me be accompanied by some soldiers, and I shall go to them.’ ‘How do you want to do it?’ ‘I shall do it this way. I shall come to an agreement with the leaders and make them return to the places in the north.’ ‘So be it!’ said the Mudaffar. Then ‘Ismänkäy took some soldiers with him, but without weapons: ‘Leave your weapons! We go out to conclude an agreement, not really for war.’ They put down the weapons. They went into the woodland. When they had gone into the woodland, the Darandollä came out and took all the soldiers prisoner. Then they continued the raid and entered Mogadiscio. The Mudaffar was caputred and they wanted to kill him. But he, looking at the people who had come close to him, saw among them ‘Ismankäy Haggi Ali. ‘Stop!’ he said then. ‘Before you kill me, I want to speak. O ‘Ismankäy, you are good for nothing, you are capable of nothing, you will not pass seven!’ he said. Thus was 248 ‘Ismankäy cursed. When the Mudaffar was killed, when seven days passed after his death, ‘Ismankäy died too. It happened exactly as he had been cursed.”

The Darandoolle have conquered Mogadishu city and killed the Muzzaffar governor sometime between 1590 and 1625. The approximate dates appear to be corroborated by a Portuguese document dated 1624 .

After the Darandoolle Mudulood took control of the Mogadishu city in 1624, they quarrelled with the Ajuraan on the interior.

‘After entering Muqdisho, the Darandoolle quarrelled with the Ajuraan. They quarrelled over watering rights. The Ajuraan had decreed: ‘At the wells in our territory, the people known as Darandoolle and the other Hiraab cannot water their herds by day, but only at night’’…Then all the Darandoolle gathered in one place. The leaders decided to make war on the Ajuraan. They found the imam of the Ajuraan seated on a rock near a well called Ceel Cawl. They killed him with a sword. As they struck him with the sword, they split his body together with the rock on which he was seated. He died immediately and the Ajuraan migrated out of the country.’"


Relative to Adal:

https://books.google.com/books?id=Y...N#v=onepage&q=Adal was an Afar state?&f=false

 

[Grant]

If you go through his posts you'll notice the clear anti-Somali trend.
He usually keeps to history and genetics but he once stepped out of it to comment on a thread about Somalis who were killed by Oromos. Just to post something about Somalis attacking oromos (seemed to be suggesting they deserved it). Idk why but he's against anything Somali.

I am absolutely NOT against anything Somali. I am against conflating Somali with Samaale. If you go that route, the Arabs, Gosha and Mushunguli, etc are also Somali. You can't logically have it both ways.

That bolded bit? Outsiders have greatly influenced Somalia but have not themselves been greatly influenced. For example, the Ogaden conflict rocked Somalia but had very little impact on Russia. I offered it as a possible reason the Somali sultanates don't appear on some maps.

 

[James Dahl]

Anti-Cushitism?
I wasn't talking about black youtube suugo quackastorians when I said African historians.



Like @Kafir and @government said, it doesn't make sense that states that are more obscure than the Somali states made it on the maps. If they were as influential Somalis swear they were, then they should have had more recognition.

Western history of Africa is from the perspective of colonialism and East Africa was colonized for the least amount of time.

Because Ajuuraan and Adal were both gone by the time colonialism began so of course they are ignored.