A Case Study for Role of Suakin Port in the trade of Sahara Region until 10th Century AH

Ports are among the most important centers in formation of civilizations and development of trade and commerce between different regions, in fact, Sea routes were the main channels of connection between regions that lacked land routes without which.  Sea ports linked diverse communities and served as a focal point or nerve center for disseminating goods, ideas, and people.  Trade and commerce, sometimes created conditions for encouraging small and large-scale emigrations and inspired military conquests missions.  Suakin remains one of the principal ports of eastern coasts of Africa to have played an important role in trade relations between Great Saharan steppe, Egypt, and the Arabian Peninsula.  During the Fatimid and Mamluk eras, Suakin was a principle point through which merchants and sailors travelling in the Red sea, converged.  Its importance in the long-distance trade was so crucial that different governments competed for its control.  The present study reports results of a recent investigations of the importance of 10th century AH Suakin port as a regional and international cultural and commercial center.