At a time when trade and transport were made primarily by water, and bearing in mind that European powers needed to have free access to the rich colonies, and only by sea could they communicate with America and the colonies, the ocean and the seas were the higways of the past. Therefore, access and control of the sea routes, was the only way to have control over the colonies, their riches; and become the dominant power in the world. In addition, the wars between France and Great Britain were not only for trade or wealth, but for power itself, to decide who would dominate the seas.
Both were members of the Sons of Liberty
Shams ad-Din Abu Abd Allah Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn Ibrahim al-Luwati at-Tanyi, better known as Ibn Battuta was an important Muslim traveler who was born in the mid 14th century in Morocco; although little is known about him, it is said that he would have traveled longer distances than Marco Polo, Ibn Yuzayy, a Historian to whom Battuta would have told his travels, wrote the Rhila or their chronicles.
In one of these chronicles, he reached Mogadishu and several impressions were recorded. First of all, some customs,such as the one of approaching travelers´ vessels before they arrive to the harbor and offer different services, such as food and hospitality. He found people from Mogadishu generous and welcoming, and described the city as very big, noticing that there was an active trade of sheeps and camels, as there was a big amount of those animals being slaughtered there.
Later in the chornicles, as he was invited to stay in Mogadishu at the Sultan´s home -Bakr ibn Shaikh Umar-, a description of the customs regarding the Sultan´s activities is recorded, particularly in his role as head and leader of the community.
