Son of Gash

🧵- History of Somali spice merchants and their trade with Mediterranean world. 1. The first mention of the Horn of Africa by Greco-Romans was the Somali region which they referred to it as “Regio Cinnamonifera” They named the region after cinnamon which shows how significant Somalis were in the spice trade during the Classical antiquity period. - time period (3rd Century BCE)

1. Stop running around with secondary orientalist sources you find on google books. Let’s take look at (reality) 2. Harari’s aren’t even merchants you’re peasant farmer who relied on Somali merchants for goods - Harari quote “"He who commands at Berbera holds the beard of Harar in his hand”. 3. Somalis controlled all Caravan routes going into interior to any city. We made the trading profits while you were bum begging us. The real merchant class. 4. Nobody recognized your Galla emir as anything but nugget head who got strangled by Egyptians and ran to Somalis for help when Abyssinians slaughtered his people and took his city. 5. Harari emirs married into Somalis for reason without that connection Somalis could enslaved that peanut head and take tribute from him.

nitter.gq/aromatamerchant/status… - read this thread debunking the Bantu “Swahili” narrative

Sultan Mahmud ll coastal home in Bargaal built in the 1700s. The home has interior and exterior designs. The door was designed and installed in year (1815) it has inscriptions on the door which reads - “"La llaha illallaah Muhammad rassul Allah, Mashallah, on the date of Rabi ul Awal 1230 AH”

When (Mongol 🇲🇳) spies were imprisoned on the Somali coast 🇸🇴 Famous 13th century Venetian explorer Marco Polo talks about Mogadishu which he referred to as (Madagascar). He says (Kingdom of Mogadishu) was governed by 4 sheikhs then he goes on to say it’s “one of the noblest and greatest islands in the world”. Also many ships from around the world come to (Mogadishu) to trade the locals importing goods such as (silk cloth, gold, etc). Marco Polo also mentions (Kublai Khan), the Mongol king and grandson of (Genghis Khan), who “sent spies to obtain information about the country”. These spies were captured and imprisoned, and upon their release, they shared the “many great wonders of these strange islands”. Later on, during (Yuan dynasty), the (Kingdom of Mogadishu) would go on to establish trade relations with the Mongol empire The (fourth photo) displayed below shows a pottery set from the (Yuan Dynasty) found in (Mogadishu) from this historical period (3rd photo) is medieval painting of Mogadishu which he referred to as (Madagascar) based on Marco Polo writings.

(Imru' al-Qais 6th century) - Imru' al-Qais is considered to be the best pre-Islamic Arabian poet. In 6th century he wrote two poems that mentions Somalis (Barbars) (1st poem) about Somali horses 🐎 - “On each short tail horse trained to night Trips for mail, strong Barbary horses Lean as swift gada wolves that you see With the sweat dripping from the sides” Which two Maghribi - Al-Andalus scholars commented on - Ibn Sa'id al-Maghribi 13th century - “(Qa'idat al Barabar) the capital of the berbers, which Imru' al-Qais described the slaves and horses who are considered really good” Ibn Khaldun 15th century - “country of Berbers which Imru' al-Qais mentioned in his poem. These Berbers do not belong to the Berbers who make up the tribes in the Maghreb” (2nd poem) details how his father (Hujr al-Kindi) who was the King of the (Kingdom of Kinda) in the 5th-6th century used Somali (Barbar) soldiers in battles against Yemeni bedouins - “my father in the fort of Kindah as a master who would rule over multitudes of armies and barbars (Somali) He will attack the Bedouins of the Yemens”

Throughout history Somali leopard skin was considered the best in the world 🌍 (al-Jāḥiẓ 9th century) - “The best leopard skins are from Berbera (Somalia coast) spotted with bright white and deep black, with long spots like a starling” Now he talks about quality of Somali leopard skin compared to those of India 🇮🇳 & North Africa - “The leopards of Berbera are small; one skin barely covers a single saddle. The highest price of a skin is fifty dinars. The North African and Indian skins are wider and bigger, but they do not fetch high prices and are not of good quality”. The Indian & North African leopard skin aren’t as good quality as the ones from the Somalia coast and do not fetch high prices like the ones from the Somalia coast. (Ibn al-Faqih 10th century) - Ibn al-Faqih describes If one had not travelled abroad the kings would not have gathered “The panther (leopard) skins of Berberia (Somalia coast)” 3rd picture - (Chinese Tang dynasty 唐朝 9th century) - depiction of Somali elder wearing leopard skin being carried 4th picture - (Top) late 1960s New York newspaper showing Somali leopard skin coat selling for “$16,000”. (Bottom) - 1970 text showing Somali leopard skin were still the most demanded and best leopard skin in the world.

Li Shi Chinese author from 12th century the oldest mention of Giraffes from Africa in Chinese literature is on the Somalia coast in 12th century. This is the 4th oldest & the most detailed descriptions of giraffes in Chinese literature. The first mention of giraffes in Chinese literature is by Chinese author Bai Juyi in 9th century (wasn’t as detailed)