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
the abundance of goods to trade
the lack of languages in the region
their military might
the abundance of goods to trade
The unique factor that allowed both the Axum Empire and the Swahili city-states to rise and thrive as trade empires was their geographic locations.
The unique factor that allowed both the Axum Empire and the Swahili city-states to rise and thrive as trade empires was their geographic locations. In the case of the Axum Empire, located in present-day Ethiopia and Eritrea, their position along the Red Sea and the access to the Indian Ocean made them a strategic hub for trade between Africa, Arabia, and India. This allowed them to control trade routes and benefit from the abundance of goods passing through.
Similarly, the Swahili city-states, located along the East African coast from present-day Somalia down to Mozambique, utilized their proximity to the Indian Ocean to establish themselves as major trade centers. Being strategically positioned along the maritime trade routes between the Middle East, India, and the African interior, they were able to attract merchants and establish bustling commercial networks.
So, the geographic locations of the Axum Empire and the Swahili city-states played a crucial role in their rise and success as trade empires.