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Ancient Somali maritime history
Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 4:59 pm
by Coeus
In ancient times the Kingdom of Punt, which is believed by several Egyptologists to have been situated in the area of modern-day Somalia, had a steady trade link with the Ancient Egyptians and exported the precious natural resources such as myrrh, frankincense and gum. This trade network continued all the way into the classical era. The city states of Mossylon, Opone, Malao, Mundus and Tabae in Somalia engaged in a lucrative trade network connecting Somali merchants with Phoenicia, Ptolemic Egypt, Greece, Parthian Persia, Saba, Nabataea and the Roman Empire. Somali sailors used the ancient Somali maritime vessel known as the beden to transport their cargo.'
'The Beden is an ancient Somali maritime vessel that remains the longest surviving sewn ship in East Africa. Its shipyards predominantly lie in the Hafun region, and the ship's modern usage is chiefly for fishing. The ship's construction style is unique to Somalia and significantly differs from extinct sewn ships of Arabia, South India and adjacent islands. An average Beden ship measures 10m or more and is strengthened with a substantial gunwale, attached by trenails. The Somali fishermen also use stone anchors to prevent their ships from being drawn to the shore when fishing.
Re: Ancient Somali maritime history
Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 5:01 pm
by RuralMan08
Most of this stuff sounds like James Dahl's work
Re: Ancient Somali maritime history
Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 5:05 pm
by Coeus
RuralMan08 wrote:Most of this stuff sounds like James Dahl's work
I see.
Re: Ancient Somali maritime history
Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 5:08 pm
by RuralMan08
Coeus wrote:I see.
In other words, its sources are weak. The only verifiable evidence we know of the history of Somalia's past is Punt, Awdal. The rest were barbaric hordes who were anti civilisation.
Re: Ancient Somali maritime history
Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 5:10 pm
by Coeus
Re: Ancient Somali maritime history
Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 5:14 pm
by RuralMan08
You are deluded. How dare you compare the great and mighty Ethiopia whom the Prophet (saw) referred to as a land of truth and justice to a nation that destroyed its own capital city.
Its an unfair comparison.
Re: Ancient Somali maritime history
Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 5:17 pm
by Coeus
RuralMan08 wrote:
You are deluded. How dare you compare the great and mighty Ethiopia whom the Prophet (saw) referred to as a land of truth and justice to a nation that destroyed its own capital city.
Its an unfair comparison.
With 80 000 people in addis abeba surviving by eating trash everyday. I fail to see the logic

Re: Ancient Somali maritime history
Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 5:34 pm
by RuralMan08
With millions displaced in Somalia and people are surviving in the ruins of what once was a capital city in Mogaidshu and warlords and various opposition fighters waging war over a non existent entity. I fail to see the logic.
Re: Ancient Somali maritime history
Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 5:44 pm
by Coeus
RuralMan08 wrote:
With millions displaced in Somalia and people are surviving in the ruins of what once was a capital city in Mogaidshu and warlords and various opposition fighters waging war over a non existent entity. I fail to see the logic.
But thats the difference. We dont claim to be "mighty". Besides Ethiopia is home to all rebels in East Afrca. Its a shame when a country that is supposedly a "democracy" is a dictatorship ruled by Meles. And its a shame that millions in Ethiopia living in worse conditions then the al shabab controlled area. Yes you are mighty

Re: Ancient Somali maritime history
Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 6:12 pm
by Estarix
The mighty Ajuuran empire and Mogadishu used to be a beacon of trade and development in the horn.
Re: Ancient Somali maritime history
Posted: Mon Dec 13, 2010 1:22 pm
by James Dahl
This isn't written by me lol
Re: Ancient Somali maritime history
Posted: Mon Dec 13, 2010 1:26 pm
by Mckuus
When will Somalis stop claiming ancient Punt? This is just silly. There is no evidence whatsoever.
Re: Ancient Somali maritime history
Posted: Mon Dec 13, 2010 2:03 pm
by James Dahl
Mckuus wrote:When will Somalis stop claiming ancient Punt? This is just silly. There is no evidence whatsoever.
Somalia was part of Punt, Punt is an ancient Egyptian geographical designation and essentially contained the whole horn of Africa. Half of Sudan was considered part of "Nbw" (Nebeu, or Nubia) and the other half (the line between the two is around the 5th Cataract) is part of "Pwnt" (Puenet, or Punt).
Here is a resource with a lot of transcriptions of ancient records concerning many different ancient Egyptian topics:
http://www.archive.org/stream/sourceboo ... s_djvu.txt