What unique factor allowed both the Axum Empire and the Swahili city-states to rise and thrive as trade empires?(1 point)
Responses
their geographic locations
their geographic locations
their military might
their military might
the lack of languages in the region
the lack of languages in the region
the abundance of goods to trade
their geographic locations
The correct answer is: their geographic locations.
Both the Axum Empire and the Swahili city-states benefited greatly from their strategic geographic locations, which allowed them to rise and thrive as trade empires.
In the case of the Axum Empire, its location in the northeastern region of Africa along the Red Sea provided easy access to the Arabian Peninsula, India, and the Mediterranean region. This positioning facilitated trade routes and made Axum a hub for both land and maritime trade. The empire's location also ensured control over important trade routes, such as the Red Sea and the Nile River, allowing it to regulate and profit from the trade flowing through these corridors.
Similarly, the Swahili city-states, situated along the eastern coast of Africa, took advantage of their maritime location in the Indian Ocean. This positioning allowed them to establish direct trade connections with merchants from the Arabian Peninsula, India, and Southeast Asia. The Swahili city-states were crucial in facilitating the trade of valuable goods such as gold, ivory, spices, and slaves between these regions. Their favorable location made them natural intermediaries in the Indian Ocean trade network.
In summary, the geographic locations of both the Axum Empire and the Swahili city-states played an essential role in their ability to rise and thrive as trade empires.