MODERN AFRICAN HISTORY Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

MODERN AFRICAN HISTORY - Essay Example With the invasion of Spain, agriculture, engineering, mining, scholar ship, industry, architecture and industry was brought to it. This made Spain a learning center in Europe for many hundred of years. Next, Egypt was in the line of invasion. It was in 11th century, when the Arab culture dominated the Berber culture (Diop, 41). The influence of Arabic language and Islam made strong roots in Northern Africa. Islam is further spread towards South, West and East Africa. The result is that within short span, great civilizations are born in the continent of Africa. The trade, institutions for scholars seeking knowledge, riches of gold, salt trade was present at that time. Architecture developed, societies flourished, African culture mingled with Islam to give a legacy of rich history to the world for later people. Ibn Battuta visited Africa and was impressed with its immense culture and advance society. He was impressed with the beautiful Alexandria’s busy harbor. He described the pyramids as firm carvings of stones with great height. It was wider at the base while slowly narrows upwards. When he came to east Africa, he landed at Zeila which was the harbor of Christian Kingdom of Ethiopia. He felt that Zeila was the dirtiest town in the whole world. He further tells us that the stench in Zeila was due to blood of camels that were butchered and the quantity of fish. About the Swahili, he writes that kings, intellectual, officers, as well as port workers, agricultural workers, artists and slaves were black people who spoke African languages in their daily life. On slavery he writes that the ruler of Kilwa was a very generous and kind king. He further states that he was man of great human morals who used to eat with his poor brothers and respected everyone (Diop, 61). When he visited West Africa, he first visited Cairo. He wrote about Cairo as being a city which spent gold in its market. He also wrote that at that time West Africa produced almost two