Cairo


Old Map of Cairo


Decision Making Power


Cairo was established by a slave as his capital on August 5, 969 A.D.


It was ruled by descendents of Mohammed until 1517


Ottoman Turks then controlled it until 1914


Cairo is located in the north north-east part of Egypt


It is located on the Nile River


Specific Economic Strengths


It is surrounded by farming land and is on the edge of a river


It had a monopoly on the spice trade before Vasco de Gama's trip to India


In 1340 over 500,000 people lived in Cairo


The city also profited from the slave trade


Metropolitan Features

Cairo has many local mosques and temples


It is also close to the famous Pyramids


Mosque in Cairo Egyption Pyramid


Samarkand


Map of Uzbekistan


When and Why Samarkand Emerged


Samarkand emerged as the economic, cultural, and intellectual center of Asia in the 16th century


Timur is attributed with making Samarkand what it once was


Specific Economic Strengths


Samarkand was a key stop on many trade routes


It was the most important stop on the spice trade route


Samarkand was also important for spice, gold, and slave trade in Asia


Important Metropolitan Features


Samarkand has many famous sites including the Registan


and the Babi-Khanin Mosque, which crumbled in on


itself, and the Shahi-Zinda road


Registan


Babi-Khanin Mosque


Shahi-Zinda road

Timbuktu


When it Emerged

Timbuktu emerged in the early 12th century A.D.


It was originally used by nomads


Because of its location it turned into a small trade center


that later evolved into a thriving industrial center


Specific Economic Strengths


Timbuktu is placed right in the center of many resources


including salt and gold


It was also a major stop for slave trade


Slabs of Salt Waiting for a Buyer


Important Metropolitan Features


Timbuktu is famous for the Djinguereber


Mosque


Djinguereber Mosque


Guangzhou


Major Economic Strengths

Gaungzhou was the key city an the Asian end of the Silk


road


It was also a key city with the opium trade and opium


wars


Venice


Major Economic Strengths


Venice was made up of mainly war refugees


The two main products were fish and salt


Because of salts...