The birth of Islam on the opposite side of Somalia's Red Sea coast meant that Somali merchants, sailors and expatriates living in the Arabian Peninsula gradually came under the influence of the new religion through their converted Arab Muslim trading partners. With the migration of fleeing Muslim families from the Islamic world to Somalia in the early centuries of Islam and the peaceful conversion of the Somali population by Somali Muslim scholars in the following centuries, the ancient city-states eventually transformed into Islamic Mogadishu, Berbera, Zeila, Barawa and Merca, which were part of the Berberi civilization. The city of Mogadishu came to be known as the City of Islam, and controlled the East African gold trade for several centuries. COUNT 5
QSN1 What body of water separated Somalia from the land where Islam was born? ANS1 Red Sea QSN2 In what location was Islam born? ANS2 the Arabian Peninsula QSN3 What civilization was Mogadishu a part of? ANS3 Berberi QSN4 What was another name for Mogadishu? ANS4 the City of Islam QSN5 The trade of what luxury in East Africa was once centered on Mogadishu? ANS5 gold