When examining the history of America, many have taken note of the differences observed between individuals from different eras. Many have different mentalities, customs, appearances, etc. differentiated, shaped by the values ​​of the time in which they lived and their environment. However, people tend to generalize countries/continents from certain periods into a singular group sharing common lives. Contrary to popular belief, one of the most diverse continents was Africa, especially before the transatlantic slave trade. As Africa is one of the largest continents, many large groups of people were separated by geographic barriers. This caused many advanced societies to form individually from each other. Before the transatlantic slave trade, Africa showed its diversity through the abundance of individualized societies and social complexity by observing the achievements of societies like Timbuktu. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Timbuktu, a city later controlled by Songhai and Morocco, was an advanced society, as evidenced by its trading methods and wealth. Timbuktu "home to three of the oldest mosques in Africa, as well as several universities, the city attracted scholars from across the Muslim world." These mosques symbolized Islamic worship, the dominant religion in this city. By promoting religious values, education, and attracting intelligent people from other regions, this city raised a generation of capable citizens who were able to contribute effectively to their society. These are the same people who can apply their knowledge to develop 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 gain the knowledge to develop, but it also creatively obtained the resources (and ultimately the power) to do so. They had developed "a trading network [that] transported gold as well as cola, slaves and animal products to towns like Jenne, from where they were sent downstream to Timbuktu for trade and transshipped across the Sahara. This road connected the people of Timbuktu to other societies (such as the Middle East) where people could exchange information, cultures, and new technologies. Additionally, it gave them significant resources to further develop their own city and ultimately become more powerful. Timbuktu had obtained more gold than many cities and was recognized in many regions for its power and resources. Although many of these societies had become linked through trade, they were still differentiated from one another. This is reflected in their strengths as a society and in their artistic expressions. For example, in Kush, a region containing cities near Egypt, the Nile was a vital resource to help them cultivate their crops and obtain the resources needed to trade with other societies. Because of their location, "Kushite traders transmitted ivory, ebony, incense, and other exotic products 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 trading system in a way that other societies could not and obtain other needed resources. While many other cities were/42952125