When looking at the history of America, something that many have taken note of are the differences observed between individuals of different eras. Many have mentalities, customs, appearances, etc. differentiated, shaped by the values ​​of the era in which they lived and by their environment. However, people tend to generalize countries/continents of certain time periods into a single group with shared lives. Contrary to common belief, one of the most diverse continents was Africa, particularly before the transatlantic slave trade. Since Africa is one of the largest continents, there were many large groups of people separated by geographic barriers. This caused many advanced societies to form individually from each other. Before the transatlantic slave trade, Africa displayed diversity through the abundance of individualized societies in Africa and social complexity when looking at the outcomes of societies like Timbuktu. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Timbuktu, a city later controlled by Songhai and Morocco, was an advanced society, as demonstrated by its trading methods and versatility. Timbuktu was "home to three of Africa's oldest mosques, as well as several universities, the city attracted scholars from across the Muslim world." These mosques symbolized Islamic worship, a dominant religion in this city. By promoting religious values, education, and attracting intelligent people from other areas, this city raised a generation of capable citizens who could contribute effectively to their society. These are the same people who can apply their knowledge to developing tools that will help Timbuktu continue to grow; gaining more power/technology at a faster rate than most cities at the time. Not only did Timbuktu acquire the knowledge needed to grow, it also creatively obtained the resources (and, ultimately, the power) to do so. They had developed “a trading network [that] funneled gold along with kola, slaves and animal products to cities like Jenne from which they were sent down the river to Timbuktu to be traded and transshipped across the Sahara.” This route connected the people of Timbuktu with other societies (such as the Middle East) where people could exchange information, cultures, and new technologies. Furthermore, it provided them with important resources to further develop their city and ultimately become more powerful. Timbuktu had obtained more gold than many cities and gained recognition from many areas for its power and resources. Although many of these societies were connected through trade, they were still differentiated from one another. This is demonstrated through their strengths as a society and in artistic expressions. For example, in Kush, a region containing cities close to Egypt, the Nile River was a vital resource that aided them in growing crops and obtaining the resources needed to trade with other societies. Because of their location, "Kushite traders transmitted ivory, ebony, incense, and other exotic goods from the south to the Egyptians who then traded with other Mediterranean peoples." The city of Kush had developed a way to contribute to the 3 trading system in a way that other companies could not and obtain other needed resources. While many other cities traded exclusively in metals, the people of Kush traded spices and resources derived from the abundance of trees that surrounded them. As cities have used their unique resources to do this, they have also shown/42952125