Red Sea History

[spacedementia]

hello everyone
Im doing a personal research project about Somalia's coastline — which is the longest in Africa — and how it acts as a gateway between the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea, leading up to the Mediterranean. I'm curious about how this has shaped Somali history, culture, and trade, especially through the Red Sea.

I'd love to hear your thoughts, stories, or anything you've heard about the Red Sea's role in Somali life and commerce. It'll help me learn more and shape my research.

 

[Espaa_]

Idk much about the gulf of aden but the coffee trade is one. Traded with oromos, formulated in zeila before trading in yemen. Thats one way the red sea was used.

it was also crucial during the adalite period in which arabs and turks crossed it to help out with the war effort.

maritime silk road connected all somali coastal cities with each other. Very important as it utilised the red sea.

today its crucial for europeans to trade with Asia quickly and efficiently so the red sea route is what they take. Quite a lot of traffic in the red sea due to its strategic importance.

land of Punt traded with ancient egypt using this route. Items traded were frankincense, myrrh, gold and ivory.

Islam also arrived to us using the red sea route. Probably the most important one on the list.

 

[cunug3aad]

Resources:
- Long Coastline: gave us marine resources such as (pearls, ambergis, fish, salt, coral, shells, dyes, and expensive pigment from mollusks). Somalia's coastline has extensive coral reefs. Coral was burned to make lime to whitewash our stone houses and to use as sement. Coral was also used to make jewlery. Our sea shore gave us copal, amber, coral, carnelian, glass etc we used to manufacture items and jewlery, for example rose water glass vases was a popular item Somali exported out.

Trade:

Somalia's strategic geography has historically provided significant trade advantages, particularly due to its location along the Horn of Africa, where the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean converge. This position made it a key point for maritime trade routes, especially from ancient times through the medieval period

It gaves us access to vast markets for exporting our goods and importing goods from outside, it also allowed for spread of knowledge and technology. Being able to covet the many benefits and wealth that came with our position.

...

Unlike Subsaharan African countries: Somalia not only has a wide coastline but also good natural deep harbours that can accommodate large vessels and vessels of various sizes, such as Hafun, Bosaso, Berbera , Kismayo and Mogadishu etc . Which has effectively allowed for seaborn trade developments.

Trade development can be seen in the use of currency. Unlike the rest of Sub-Saharan Africa, Somalis for a considerably chunck of their history used both foreign and locally minted coins , rather than a strict reliance on a barter system.

Awfat/Awdal, was using coinage, it is also believed to have minted gold coins, southern Somalia was using coinage. Mogadishu minted coins from 800-1700s. Somalis continued to mint and use coinage up until the late 1800s from Harar. The minted coinage was used in wide circulation throughout the whole Somali inhabited areas even in used in the Northern Eastern coast.