Mogadishu (Somali: Muqdisho, popularly Xamar; Arabic: مقديشو‎ Maqadīshū; Italian: Mogadiscio), is the largest city in Somalia, and its capital. Somali ( Af Soomaali, الصوماليه is a member of the East Cushitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family spoken by ethnic Somalis Arabic (ar الْعَرَبيّة (informally ar عَرَبيْ) in terms of the number of speakers is the largest living member of the Semitic language Italian ( or lingua italiana) is a Romance language spoken by about 63 million people as a First language, primarily in Italy. Somalia ( Soomaaliya; الصومال) officially the Somali Republic ( Jamhuuriyadda Soomaaliya, جمهورية الصومال) and formerly known Mogadishu was historically founded on trade, and has recently seen armed warfare since the collapse of the Somali government in 1991. Mogadishu ( Somali: Muqdisho, popularly Xamar, Hamar; مقديشو Maqadīshū The politics of Somalia are defined by the state of Civil war which since 1991 has divided the country into various warring entities and autonomist and seccessionist

Medieval city-state

The market place in Mogadishu in 1882. Year 1882 ( MDCCCLXXXII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common

Trade connected Somalis in the Mogadishu area to other communities along the Indian coast as early as the first century AD according to the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea. The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea ( Periplus Maris Erythraei) is a Greek Periplus, describing navigation and trading opportunities With Muslims traders from the Arabian Peninsula arriving circa AD 900, Mogadishu was well suited to become a regional centre for commerce. The Arabian Peninsula (in Arabic: شبه الجزيرة العربية šibh al-jazīra al-ʻarabīya or جزيرة العرب jazīrat al-ʻarab) Events By place Asia Laguna Copperplate Inscription, Kavi script inscribed in Luzon, Philippines, Commerce is a division of trade or production which deals with the exchange of goods and services from producer to final consumer While the majority of the Somali coast is arid, the area around Mogadishu is more suitable to agriculture and could support a larger population. It is also the northernmost site in East Africa with a good natural harbour.

The northernmost of the East African city-states, Mogadishu prospered with trade with the interior, which spread Islam throughout Somalia. A city-state is a Region controlled exclusively by a City, usually having Sovereignty. Beginning about 1000, trade increased among the Swahili cities of coastal East Africa. This trade drove the Mogadishu economy by the early 1100s. The origin of the name "Mogadishu" is unclear; one version claims it as the Somali version of the Arabic language and/or Persian name "maqad shah" (imperial seat of the shah). Arabic (ar الْعَرَبيّة (informally ar عَرَبيْ) in terms of the number of speakers is the largest living member of the Semitic language The historic Mosque of Fakr ad-Din, built 1269, still stands. The Fakr ad-Din Mosque is the oldest Mosque in Mogadishu, Somalia Archaeological excavations have recovered many coins from China, Sri Lanka, and Annam. China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka ( Sinhalese:, இலங்கை known as Ceylon before 1972 is an Island The majority of the Chinese coins date to the Song Dynasty, although the Ming Dynasty and Qing Dynasty "are also represented,"^[1] according to Richard K. The Song Dynasty ( Wade-Giles: Sung Ch'ao was a ruling dynasty in China between 960&ndash1279 CE it succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms The Ming Dynasty ( or Empire of the Great Ming ( was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644 following the collapse of the Mongol -led Not to be confused with Qin Dynasty, the first dynasty of Imperial China P. Pankhurst. The trading Zanj city-states of the Swahili civilization imported Arabic pottery, Chinese porcelain, and Indian cloth. Zanj ( Arabic and Persian زنج "Land of the Blacks" was a name used by medieval Arab geographers to refer to both a certain portion of the Swahili (called Kiswahili in the language itself is the First language of the Swahili people (Waswahili who inhabit several large stretches They exported wood, ivory, shells, slaves, and iron. Kilwa, which dominated the gold trade from the Great Zimbabwe, ultimately eclipsed Mogadishu, Lamu, Zanzibar, and other northern cities after the 1200s. Kilwa is one of the 6 districts of the Lindi Region of Tanzania. The Great Zimbabwe, or "stone buildings" is the name given to hundreds of great stone Ruins spread out over a 500 km² (200 square mile area within the modern-day Lamu town is the largest town on Lamu Island, which in turn is a part of the Lamu Archipelago in Kenya. Zanzibar ( is part of the East African republic of Tanzania. It consists of the Zanzibar Archipelago in the

Trading across the Arabian Sea enabled major ports like Mogadishu to prosper during the later Middle Ages. Ross E. Dunn describes Mogadishu and other East African Muslim settlements as "a kind of medieval America, a fertile, well-watered land of economic opportunity and a place of salvation from drought, famine, overpopulation, and war at home. "^[2]

The abundance of food in Mogadishu around 1330 impressed visitor Ibn Battuta. Abu Abdullah Muhammad Ibn Abdullah Al Lawati Al Tanji Ibn Battuta (أبو عبد الله محمد ابن عبد الله اللواتي الطنجي بن بطوطة (born February He remarked that a single person "eats as much as a whole company of us would eat, as a matter of habit, and they are corpulent and fat in the extreme. "^[3]

Colonial Era

Downtown Mogadishu in 1936. Arba Rucun mosque to the center right. A "mosque" in English refers to all types of buildings dedicated for Islamic worship although there is a distinction in Arabic between the smaller privately owned mosque and the larger

According to Duarte Barbosa the Portuguese visited the city but never succeeded in taking it. The Portuguese people (os Portugueses literally the Portuguese) are the Ethnic group or Nation native to the country of Portugal, in the west The sultan of Zanzibar occupied the city in 1871. Zanzibar ( is part of the East African republic of Tanzania. It consists of the Zanzibar Archipelago in the Garesa Palace,^[4] built in the late 1800s for the local administrator of the sultan, now houses a museum and library. When Mogadishu was visited by French traveller Charles Guillain in 1846-1848, Mogadishu was dependent on both the Sultanate of Zanzibar and the Somali Geledi Clan. "

In 1892, the sultan of Zanzibar leased the city to Italy. Zanzibar ( is part of the East African republic of Tanzania. It consists of the Zanzibar Archipelago in the Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest Italy purchased the city in 1905 and made Mogadiscio (Italian for Mogadishu) the capital of Italian Somaliland. Italian Somalia (also known as Italian Somaliland) was a colony of the Kingdom of Italy ( Regno d'Italia) from the 1880s until 1942 in the territory The surrounding territory came under Italian control in 1936 after heavy resistance. Somalia ( Soomaaliya; الصومال) officially the Somali Republic ( Jamhuuriyadda Soomaaliya, جمهورية الصومال) and formerly known as the

British forces operating from Kenya during World War II captured and occupied Mogadishu. The Republic of Kenya is a country in East Africa. It is bordered by Ethiopia to the north Somalia to the northeast Tanzania to the south World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including The capital of Italian Somaliland fell to the British forces on February 26, 1941. Events 747 BC - Epoch (origin of Ptolemy 's Nabonassar Era 364 - Valentinian I is proclaimed Year 1941 ( MCMXLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (the link will display 1941 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The British continued to rule until Italy returned in 1952 to administer their former Somali protectorate. Education advanced with the 1954 establishment of Somalia National University. Year 1954 ( MCMLIV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1954 Gregorian calendar) Jaamacada Ummada Soomaaliyeed or the Somali National University (SNU is the national University of the Northeast African nation of Somalia. Somalia achieved independence in 1960 with Mogadishu as its capital. Year 1960 ( MCMLX) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

Collapse of government and UN intervention

Rebel forces entered and took the city in 1990, forcing President Mohammed Siad Barre to resign and flee in January 1991 to Lagos, Nigeria. President is a Title leaders of Organizations companies, Trade unions universities, and countries. Mohamed Siad Barre (Maxamed Siyaad Barre محمّد سياد بري) (b Lagos ( pron ˈleɪgɒs or /ˈlɑːgoʊs/ overseas is the most populous Conurbation in Nigeria with Nigeria, officially named the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal Constitutional republic comprising thirty-six states and one Federal One faction proclaimed Mohammed Ali Mahdi president, another Mohammed Farah Aidid. General Mohamed Farrah Aidid (محمد فرح عيديدمحمد فرح عيديد December 15 1934 – August 2 1996 was a controversial Somali leader often described The Somalia National University, which enrolled 4600 students before the war, closed as the educational system soon collapsed. Jaamacada Ummada Soomaaliyeed or the Somali National University (SNU is the national University of the Northeast African nation of Somalia. War is an international relations Dispute, characterized by organized Violence between National Military units This is a list of articles on Education organized by country A Education in Afghanistan Education in Albania

Intense battling between these rivals and other clan-based rebel factions damaged many parts of Mogadishu in 1991-1992 and led to tens of thousands of casualties as an intense drought-induced famine ravaged rural Somalia. Year 1991 ( MCMXCI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar. Year 1992 ( MCMXCII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar)

A contingent of United States Marines landed near Mogadishu on December 9, 1992 to spearhead United Nations peacekeeping forces. Events 536 - Byzantine General Belisarius enters Rome while the Ostrogothic garrison peacefully leaves the city Year 1992 ( MCMXCII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar) The United Nations ( UN) is an International organization whose stated aims are to facilitate cooperation in International law, International security Peacekeeping, as defined by the United Nations, is "a way to help countries torn by conflict create conditions for sustainable peace The United Nations sought to capture warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid in 1993 to enable the establishment of a transitional government. A warlord is a person with power who has military control over a subnational area due to Armed forces loyal to the warlord and not to a central authority General Mohamed Farrah Aidid (محمد فرح عيديدمحمد فرح عيديد December 15 1934 – August 2 1996 was a controversial Somali leader often described Somalis loyal to him ambushed the peacekeepers and killed 24 Pakistanis. Pakistan 's estimated population was 172800000 in July 2008 During 1950-2008 Pakistan's urban population expanded over sevenfold while the total population increased by over fourfold

Aerial view of a residential area of Mogadishu, with a U. S. Marine Corps helicopter in the foreground, December 1992.

On October 3, 1993, the United States Army Rangers and the Army's Delta Force went on a mission to capture two of Aidid's warlords, which lead to the Battle of Mogadishu. Events 42 BC - First Battle of Philippi: Triumvirs Mark Antony and Octavian fight an indecisive battle with Caesar's Year 1993 ( MCMXCIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar) The United States Army Rangers or simply Army Rangers are specialized elite American light infantry and Special operations troops For the computer game see Delta Force (video game. For the movie see The Delta Force (film. The Battle of Mogadishu (also referred to as the Battle of the Black Sea) or Although the mission was successful, five American army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters were shot down during the battle (two in the city [Durant's "Super 64" and Wolcot's "Super 61"] and 3 at a safe area), causing about 100 United States Army Rangers and Delta Force operators to be pinned down in the city, trying to rescue survivors and recover the dead. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout The United States Army Rangers or simply Army Rangers are specialized elite American light infantry and Special operations troops In this Battle of Mogadishu, the Somalis killed 18, one soldier three days later in a mortar strike and 1 Malaysian soldier and injured several dozen. The Battle of Mogadishu (also referred to as the Battle of the Black Sea) or Estimates put the number of Somali casualties at 500-1000 militia and civilians dead and 3000-4000 injured. The later nonfiction books Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern War, In The Company Of Heroes, and motion picture Black Hawk Down dramatized the events of this battle. Black Hawk Down A Story of Modern War is a book by Mark Bowden chronicling the U Black Hawk Down is a 2001 Academy Award -winning War film directed by Ridley Scott, based on the book Black Hawk Down a

With these casualties, United States President Bill Clinton withdrew American forces in 1994. The President of the United States is the Head of state and Head of government of the United States and is the highest political official in United States by William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton (born William Jefferson Blythe III, August 19 1946 served as the forty-second President of the United States Two factions in Mogadishu nevertheless reached a peace accord on January 16, 1994. Events 27 BC - The title Augustus is bestowed upon Gaius Julius Caesar Octavian by the Roman Senate. Year 1994 ( MCMXCIV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar) Heavy fighting, however, intensified between numerous warlords and factions for control over the city after the March 3, 1995 withdrawal of the last international peacekeepers. Events 1284 - Statute of Rhuddlan incorporated the Principality of Wales into England 1575 - Indian Year 1995 ( MCMXCV) was a Common year starting on Sunday. Events of 1995

Mohamed Farrah Aidid declared himself president in June 1995 and by 1996 captured strategic neighborhoods in Mogadishu and some outlying territory. General Mohamed Farrah Aidid (محمد فرح عيديدمحمد فرح عيديد December 15 1934 – August 2 1996 was a controversial Somali leader often described Rival militias renewed fighting in Mogadishu and Hoddur in 1996. Aidid ultimately died in July 1996 from gunshot wounds suffered in a street battle.

Mogadishu today

‎Excessive Isbaros and violence continued to rule Mogadishu and much of southern Somalia through the late 1990s and early 2000s, including the deaths of British Aid workers Dick and Enid Eyeington in 2003. Dick and Enid Eyeington were British Aid workers to Somaliland. Now clans have established territory for themselves and claim independence from the Republic of Somalia. All attempts to restore state order, by forming transitional governments while in exile, have failed.

Second Battle of Mogadishu

Main article: Second Battle of Mogadishu

On 7 May 2006, fighting broke out between Islamist militias and an alliance of Somali warlords over control of Mogadishu. The Second Battle of Mogadishu was a Battle fought for control of Mogadishu, the capital city of Somalia. Events 558 - In Constantinople, the dome of the Hagia Sophia collapses Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Islamism ( Islam + ism; Arabic: al-'islāmiyya) a set of ideologies holding that Islam is not only The opposing forces were the Alliance for the Restoration of Peace and Counter-Terrorism (ARPCT), and militia loyal to the Islamic Court Union (ICU). The Alliance for the Restoration of Peace and Counter-Terrorism ( ARPCT) ( Isbaheysiga Ladagaalanka Argagaxisadda) was a Somali alliance created by various The Islamic Courts Union ( ICU, Somali: Midowga Maxkamadaha Islaamiga Arabic: اتحاد المحاكم الإسلامية Ittihād al-mahākim The conflict began in mid-February, 2006, when Somali warlords formed the ARPCT to challenge the emerging influence of the ICU. A warlord is a person with power who has military control over a subnational area due to Armed forces loyal to the warlord and not to a central authority It has been alleged that the United States has provided funding for the ARPCT due to concerns that the ICU has ties to al-Qaeda. The foreign policy of the United States is highly influential on the world stage as it is a Superpower. Al-Qaeda, alternatively spelled al-Qaida, al-Qa`ida or al-Qa`idah, ( Arabic:; ar-Latn ''al-qāʿidah'' Translation: The ^[5] Most of the combat was concentrated in the Sii-Sii (often written "CC" in English) district in northern Mogadishu with both the Islamist militias and the secular warlords fighting for control of Mogadishu. On 5 June 2006, the ICU militia seized Mogadishu. Events 70 - Titus and his Roman Legions breach the middle wall of Jerusalem in the Siege of Jerusalem Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar.

Fall of Mogadishu

Main article: Fall of Mogadishu

Mogadishu in 2006. The Fall of Mogadishu occurred on December 28, 2006, when the militaries of Somalia 's Transitional Federal Government

While the ICU consolidated control over Mogadishu, a UN-supported Transitional Government remained undefeated in Baidoa, despite a series of military setbacks. The Transitional Federal Parliament of the Somali Republic ( Golaha Shacabka Federaalka Kumeelgaarka ee Jamhuuriyada Soomaaliya; often Baarlamaanka Federaalka Soomaaliya An attempt by the ICU to capture Baidoa prompted a military intervention by Ethiopia in support of the Transitional Government starting December 21, 2006. The War in Somalia is an ongoing armed conflict involving largely Ethiopian and Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG forces versus the Somali Events 69 - The end of the Year of the four emperors: Following Galba, Otho and Vitellius, Vespasian Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. On December 25 Ethiopian jets bombed Mogadishu's main airport held by the ICU since June. Events 274 - Roman Emperor Aurelian Witnesses reported MiG fighter jets fired missiles into the airport twice. JSC "RSK "MiG" or Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG in full (formerly Mikoyan or Mikoyan-i-Gurevich Design Bureau, Микоян One person was killed and a number injured. Further north, Beledweyne was also bombed, according to witnesses. Beledweyne ( Beledweyne)(بليث وين is a city in central Somalia. ^[6] The fighting between the Ethiopian-backed TFG and the ICU became stretched to over 400km (250 miles) of land. ^[7]

Following a rapid advance, Ethiopian and pro-government militias surrounded Mogadishu. A spokesman stated that the troops would besiege the city but not attack it in order to avoid civilian casualties. ^[8] On December 27, reports stated that the ICU was abandoning the city. ^[9] On December 28, 2006, pro-government militias claimed to have taken control of key locations, including the former presidential palace. Events 1065 - Westminster Abbey is Consecrated. 1308 - The reign of Emperor Hanazono, Emperor of Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ^[10]

Battle of Mogadishu (2007)

Main article: Battle of Mogadishu (2007)

In January 2007, an Islamic insurgency erupted in Mogadishu, targeting government and Ethiopian forces. A helicopter was shot down as battles engulf in the city on March 30, 2007. Events 240 BC - 1st recorded Perihelion passage of Halley's Comet. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Two Ethiopian helicopters fired on a rebel stronghold before one was hit by a missile. NOTE This intro is the result of careful NPOV work Please do not make potentially controversial edits to it without first discussing on the talk page In addition, Ethiopia told its forces had killed 200 insurgents in a two-day joint offensive with Somali troops against the Islamic Courts Union. The Islamic Courts Union ( ICU, Somali: Midowga Maxkamadaha Islaamiga Arabic: اتحاد المحاكم الإسلامية Ittihād al-mahākim ^[11]

References