Comparison of Civilizations in Africa

The civilizations of Meroe in the Nile Valley and Axum in the Horn of Africa were similar in that they both had long-distance trading connections, urban centers, centralized states, complex societies, monumental architecture, written languages, and imperial ambitions. They were also both in direct contact with the Mediterranean world. These were both the typical definition of civilizations in where they were located and how they operated. They could be contrasted with the groups of powerful cities along the Niger River. These civilizations had no apparent corresponding state structure like Meroe or Axum yet they were able to create a system of specialized occupations and food production. Their system benefited the population in that there were no signs of despotic power, widespread warfare or deep social inequalities. They did however have occupational castes whose members passed their jobs and skills to their children and could marry only within their group which might have caused its own challenges. Africa's large size contributed to a large variety of civilizations which is reflected in the differences of these specific three.