Decline of mogadishu 17th-18th century

[Idilinaa]

What built the city was actually the two Somali governments that came after . The Kacaan government cleaned most of the area,
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They expanded the city into many new districts and started to clean it up. They built new landmarks, monuments, villas , housing, hotels, mosques, theaters, stadiums, streets ,roads and they planted trees, gardens etc

City map under Kacaan government: The government even repaired old districts that the Italians bulldozed.
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I don't think there is any worse than colonial propaganda, they destroy things and make life worse. But then take credit for bringing civilization. Dad walaan.

Construction in Wadajir district of Mogadishu

On the self-help projects that was used for constructions and city build out, where local community directly built things with their own money tools, materials and resources.

 

[DubatDiaries]

Mogadishu, for some reason, seemed to be experiencing a decline more so than Harar and to some extent Zaila compared to the medieval times.

*From what I read about the Italian colonization of Mogadishu, they described it as a small town passed its heyday with a population estimated to be less than 5000 in the 1890s.
Harar, on the other hand - a bustling trade city well into the 20th century, the centre of coffee and arms trade in the region and quite wealthy. They had a population of around 45000 in the 1880s - which is impressive, considering the physical size of the walled city.
So, it does seem like Mogadishu was not as important for trade/wealth in the horn at that point in time. Sold off by a dynasty in decline, not even under the usual pretence of ‘protectorate’ that was pretty popular in the world of sultans negotiating their existence in the colonial era. Atleast, not what you would expect for a strategic/important urban centre.

What’s interesting is that Merca might’ve even been larger than Mogadishu at the turn of the 20th century due to its productive agricultural industry in the area. Maybe this partially explain why giving away Mogadishu wasn’t seen as a total loss?

 

[DubatDiaries]

This reminds, the original Baghdad, home to the sprawling Abassid empire and one of the greatest cities at the time, has nothing left of the original structures.
Its crazy how easy a city/civilizations' built environment can be lost, it technically was not that long ago
Who knows about all the smaller villages and cities that once existed on the Somali peninsula...... or even earth

 

[AbdiBashirJR]

This reminds, the original Baghdad, home to the sprawling Abassid empire and one of the greatest cities at the time, has nothing left of the original structures.
Its crazy how easy a city/civilizations' built environment can be lost, it technically was not that long ago
Who knows about all the smaller villages and cities that once existed on the Somali peninsula...... or even earth

whys ur name dubat diaries?

 

[DubatDiaries]

whys ur name dubat diaries?

Randomly inspired by my profile banner photo

 

[Midas]

This reminds, the original Baghdad, home to the sprawling Abassid empire and one of the greatest cities at the time, has nothing left of the original structures.
Its crazy how easy a city/civilizations' built environment can be lost, it technically was not that long ago
Who knows about all the smaller villages and cities that once existed on the Somali peninsula...... or even earth

Yeah this is why even though i and the archeology fascinating. My main intrest is in somali literature and somali manuscripts like the one i posted a couple days ago. They're are ultimately what will allow us to reconstruct somali history or at least somewhat understanda the worldview of our ancestors.

Any real sense or idea of a past somali civilization will ultimately require a basis in the somali poetic tradition.

Hopefully will find some type of somali epic poem like the nibelung or volsung saga in some somali ajami manuscript.