Dear Malika, the Somali Odyssey!

[Chimera]

Malika;853832 wrote:

^I would like info on the scholars

- Uways al-Barawi (1847–1909) – Somali scholar credited with reviving Islam in 19th century East Africa and with followers in Yemen and Indonesia.

 

-Sa'id of Mogadishu – 14th century Somali scholar and traveler. His reputation as a scholar earned him audiences with the Emirs of Mecca and Medina. He travelled across the Muslim world and visited Bengal and China.

 

- Ali al-Jabarti (d. 1492) – Somali scholar and politician in the Mamluk Empire.

 

- Uthman bin Ali Zayla'i (d. 1342) – 14th century Somali theologian and jurist who wrote the single most authoritative text on the Hanafi school of Islam, consisting of four volumes known as the Tabayin al-Haqa'iq li Sharh Kanz al-Daqa'iq.

 

- Abd al Aziz al-Amawi (1832–1896) – 19th century influential Somali diplomat, historian, poet, jurist and scholar living in the Sultanate of Zanzibar.

 

- Abd al-Rahman al-Jabarti (1753–1825) – Somali scholar living in Cairo who recorded the Napoleonic invasion of Egypt.

 

- Abd Al-Rahman bin Ahmad al-Zayla'i (1820–1882) – Somali scholar who played a crucial role in the spread of the Qadiriyya movement in Somalia and East Africa.

 

There are many more, indeed there were entire academies in Al-Azhar and the Ummayad Mosque in Damascus exclusively boarded with students from modern Somalia. "Arabic Sources on Somalia" by Mukthar Mohamed is a good start.

[Chimera]

the merchants

 

Maritime history of Somalia refers to the seafaring tradition of the Somali people.[1] It includes various stages of Somali navigational technology, shipbuilding and design, as well as the history of the Somali port cities. It also covers the historical sea routes taken by Somali sailors which sustained the commercial enterprises of the historical Somali kingdoms and empires, in addition to the contemporary maritime culture of Somalia.

 

In antiquity, the ancestors of the Somali people were an important link in the Horn of Africa connecting the region's commerce with the rest of the ancient world. Somali sailors and merchants were the main suppliers of frankincense, myrrh and spices, items which were considered valuable luxuries by the Ancient Egyptians, Phoenicians, Mycenaeans and Babylonians. During the classical era, several ancient city-states such as Opone, Mosylon and Malao (ancient) that competed with the Sabaeans, Parthians and Axumites for the wealthy Indo-Greco-Roman trade also flourished in Somalia. In the Middle Ages, several powerful Somali empires dominated the regional trade including the Ajuuran State, the latter of which maintained profitable maritime contacts with Arabia, India, Venetia, Persia, Egypt, Portugal and as far away as China. This tradition of seaborne trade was maintained in the early modern period by later Somali states such as the Gobroon Dynasty. -- Source

 

A giraffe exported to the Ming Dynasty of China

[Chimera]

the Somali empires and kingdoms

SULTANATE OF MOGADISHU

 

 

The Sultanate of Mogadishu (r. 10th-16th centuries) was a medieval trading empire in Somalia. It rose as one of the pre-eminent powers in the Horn of Africa and the larger East Africa region during the 12th, 13th and 14th centuries, before becoming part of the expanding Ajuuran Empire. The Mogadishans maintained a vast trading network, dominated the regional gold trade, minted their own coins, and left an extensive architectural legacy in modern Somalia. -- Source

 

 

AJUURAN EMPIRE

 

 

The Ajuuran state or Ajuuran sultanate was a Somali Muslim empire that ruled over large parts of the Horn of Africa in the Middle Ages. Through a strong centralized administration and an aggressive military stance towards invaders, the Ajuuran Empire successfully resisted an Oromo invasion from the west and a Portuguese incursion from the east during the Gaal Madow and the Ajuuran-Portuguese wars. Trading routes dating from the ancient and early medieval periods of Somali maritime enterprise were strengthened or re-established, and foreign trade and commerce in the coastal provinces flourished with ships sailing to and coming from a many kingdoms and empires in East Asia, South Asia, Europe, the Near East, North Africa and East Africa.

 

The empire left an extensive architectural legacy, being the major medieval Somali power engaged in castle and fortress building, with many of the hundreds of ruined fortifications dotting the landscapes of Somalia today attributed to Ajuuran engineers. and includes many of the pillar tomb fields, necropolises and ruined cities built in that era. During the Ajuuran period many regions and peoples in East Africa converted to Islam because of the theocratic nature of the government. The royal family, the House of Gareen, expanded its territories and established its hegemonic rule through a skillful combination of warfare, trade linkages and alliances.

 

As an hydraulic empire, the Ajuuran Empire monopolized the water resources of the Shabelle and Jubba rivers. Through hydraulic engineering, it also constructed many of the limestone wells and cisterns of the state that are still operative and in use today. -- Source

 

 

EMPIRE OF ADAL

 

 

The Adal Sultanate or the Kingdom of Adal (c. 1415 - 1577) was a medieval multi-ethnic Muslim state located in the Horn of Africa. At its height, the polity controlled large parts of modern day Somalia, Ethiopia, Djibouti and Eritrea. During its existence, Adal had relations and engaged in trade with other polities in Northeast Africa, the Near East, Europe and South Asia. Many of the historic cities in the Horn of Africa such as Maduna, Abasa and Berbera flourished under its reign with courtyard houses, mosques, shrines, walled enclosures and cisterns. Adal attained its peak in the 14th century, trading in slaves, ivory and other commodities with Abyssinia and kingdoms in Arabia through its chief port of Zeila. The cities of the empire imported intricately colored glass bracelets and Chinese celadon for palace and home decoration

 

The Adalite military was divided in several sections such as the infantry consisting of swordsmen, archers and lancers that were commanded by various generals and lieutenants. These forces were complimented by a cavalry force and eventually later in the empire's history; by matchlock-technology and cannons during the Conquest of Abyssinia. The various divisions were symbolised with a distinct flag.

 

The Adalite soldiers donned elaborate helmets and steel-armour made up of chain-mail with overlapping tiers. The Horsemen of Adal wore protective helmets that covered the entire face except for the eyes, and breastplates on their body, while they harnessed their horses in a similar fashion. In siege warfare, ladders were employed to scale buildings and other high positions such as hills and mountains. -- Source

 

DERVISH STATE

 

 

The Dervish state was an early 20th century Somali Sunni Islamic state that was established by Muhammad Abdullah Hassan, a religious leader who gathered Somali soldiers from across the Horn of Africa and united them into a loyal army known as the Dervishes. This Dervish army enabled Hassan to carve out a powerful state through conquest of lands claimed by the Somali Sultans, the Ethiopians and the European powers. The Dervish State acquired renown in the Islamic and Western worlds due to its resistance against the European empires of Britain and Italy. The Dervish forces successfully repulsed the British Empire in four military expeditions, and forced it to retreat to the coastal region. As a result of its fame in the Middle East and Europe, the Dervish State was recognized as an ally by the Ottoman Empire and the German Empire. It also succeeded at outliving the Scramble for Africa, and remained throughout World War I the only independent Muslim power on the continent. After a quarter of a century of holding the British at bay, the Dervishes were finally defeated in 1920, when Britain used aeroplanes to bomb the Dervish capital of Taleex. -- Source

 

---

 

These were the four Somali dominated empires and kingdoms that really had a significant impact on modern Somalia and East Africa, in terms of culture, religion, demographics, language, territory, urbanization and the Somalization of various ethnic groups. Other historic states such as the ones below were very interesting too, but the institution of clan was more prominent:

 

Gobroon Dynasty

 

The Geledi sultanate was a Somali Sultanate that ruled parts of the Horn of Africa during the 18th and 19th centuries. The Sultanate was governed by the Gobroon Dynasty. It was established by the Geledi soldier Ibrahim Adeer, who had defeated various vassals of the Ajuuran Empire and founded the House of Gobroon. The dynasty reached its apex under the successive reigns of Sultan Yusuf Mahamud Ibrahim, who successfully consolidated Geledi power during the Bardera wars, and Sultan Ahmed Yusuf, who forced regional powers such as the Omani Empire to submit tribute. -- Source

 

Warsangali-Sultanate

 

The Warsangali Sultanate was a Somali imperial ruling house centered in northeastern and in some parts of southeastern Somalia. It was one of the largest sultanates ever established in the territory, and, at the height of its power, included the Sanaag region and parts of the northeastern Bari region of the country, an area historically known as Maakhir or the Maakhir Coast. -- Source

 

Migiurtinia

 

Migiurtinia, was a Somali Sultanate in the Horn of Africa. Ruled by King Osman Mahamuud during its golden age, it controlled much of northern and central Somalia in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The polity had all of the organs of an integrated modern state and maintained a robust trading network. It also entered into treaties with foreign powers and exerted strong centralized authority on the domestic front. -- Source

 

Sultanate of Hobyo

 

The Sultanate of Hobyo also known as the Sultanate of Obbia, was a 19th century Somali kingdom in present-day northern Somalia. It was carved out of the former Migiurtinia by Yusuf Ali Kenadid, cousin of Boqor Osman Mahamuud. -- <a href="http://Source">Source

[Chimera]

throw in the historic cities too..

Old Bulhar

 

 

Dhudo Fort

 

Mogadishu Fort

 

Geresa Fort

 

Abasa City ruins

[Chimera]

Old Barawa

 

 

 

 

Bur Gabo ruins

 

Old Gobweyne

 

Ancient Hafun

 

[Chimera]

Old Merka

 

 

Iskushubaan Fort

 

Old Maduna

 

Old Qandala

 

Old Nimmo

 

Old Bosaso

[Chimera]

Hamarweyne quarters

 

 

[Chimera]

There are many more historic sites in the following Somali cities and towns: Bender Ziyada, Alula, Mereg, Warsheikh, Abai Dakhan, Maduna, Abasa, Wargaade, Berbera, Amud, Borama, Bender Beyla, El Ayo, Durba, Las Qoray, Gondereshe, Luuq, Bardera, Qandala, Jaziira, Kismayo, Bajuni Islands, Danane, Munghia, Badhan, Las Anod, Hasannasa, Daamo, etc

 

Gondershe

 

Taleh

 

Eyl

 

Maduna

 

Las Qoray

 

Alula

 

Zeila

[Maaddeey]

Masha Allah. lakin Zaylici-ga xanafiga ah Soomaali maaha inakstuu 'Zaylac' u nisbo sheegto, Zaylac waxay sheegeen iany tahay magaalo deked ah oo Ethiopia ku taal!. Sidoo kale Jabarti waa qabiil Yemen & Ethiopia dega.

[N.O.R.F]

Wow Adam. Great stuff. This is the type of history lesson we could all do with (and should be taught in schools). May just give the country a better identity and a sense of purpose.

[Che -Guevara]

Most useful thread of the month!

[Blessed]

^of the year! Thanks Chimera. You really are a star!

[Taleexi]

Good stuff, thanks for sharing.

[Chimera]

Somalia is stabilizing, so many of the heritage sites and cities in the South will be able to welcome visitors again in the near future, insha'allah. I'm surprised S-land and P-land have done next to nothing to promote tourism based on the wealth of heritage that can be found there:

 

SOMALI HERITAGE:

 

South

 

Destinations: Merka and Barawa

 

 

- Many old mosques, palaces and shrines

 

- The old sections of the cities have houses four or five storeys high

 

- Stone Towers

 

Destination: Warsheikh

 

- Historic mosques and shrines

 

- Pillar tombs

 

- City walls

 

- Ruined houses

 

Destination: Gondershe

 

- Old citadel

 

- many historic mosques and shrines

 

Destination: Luuq

 

- Old city

 

- ruins of historic mosques and tombs

 

Destination: Bardera

 

- Old citadel

 

Destination: Mogadishu

 

- 13th century Arba Rucun mosque

 

- Fakr Ad din Mosque

 

- Jamia University

 

- Almnara Tower

 

- City walls

 

- Shingani

 

- Hamar jajab

 

- old lighthouses

 

- etc

 

Northeast

 

Destination: Taleex

 

 

-Fortresses of Taleex

 

-Shrines of Sayyid's mother and father

 

Destination: Bosaso

 

-Old palaces of the Alula dynasty

 

-Several Forts

 

-Historic mosques and shrines

 

-Old port

 

Destination: Las Khorey

 

- Palaces of the Gerads

 

- Several fortresses

 

- Old port

 

Destination: Qandala

 

- Old stone city

 

- several palaces and forts

 

Destination: Hafun

 

- ruins of Ancient Opone

 

- ancient harbour

 

- 18th century forts

 

Destination: Hobyo

 

- Many 19th century ruins such as forts and palaces

 

- Ajjuuraan Palace with seven arches.

 

There are also several other important sites and places such as Bargaal, Botiala and Bandar Beyla with lots of historic heritage.

 

Northwest:

 

Destination: Berbera

 

 

-Old stone city of Biya Guure - a few miles east of Berbera(again ask a local Berberawi to show you the way)

 

-Ancient Dubar fortress

 

Destination: Hargeisa

 

-There should be an old giant Fortress in the city(i think its best if you asked a local Hargeisawi knowlegdeable of the area where the precise location of that large fortress is and he/she might show you even more historical sites which are still unexplored)

 

-Laas Geel rock painting Cave complex

 

Destination: Amud and Abasa

 

-Two large stone cities(you can see some ancient ruins of Amud if you type ''Amud,Somalia'' in google images)

 

(^ both of those cities are situated in the Borama area which is close to Hargeisa)

 

Destination: Saylac

 

- Sa'ad ad Din Island and the medieval ruins and shrines

 

- Old City walls

 

- Ruins of the old quarter of the city

 

- Qiblatain Mosque and others

 

(Saylac is in the Awdal province and close by Borama)

 

Destination: Bulhar

 

-Ancient Port city with lots of historical relics

 

(close to Saylac)

 

Destination: Heis

 

-Ancient city with lots of relics

 

(close to Berbera)

 

Destination: Mait

 

-Ancient city with many ruins

 

(next to Heis)

 

Destination: Erigavo

 

- Ancient Stone city of Maduna in Eel Afweyn which is close to Erigavo(type in Maduna, Somalia in google images and you will see some interesting remains of that city)

 

- Dervish Fortresses in Erigavo

ETC....

[Malika]

Fabulous stuff Chimera! Thanks alot!!

 

I second Norf.