Answer:
One major log to the fire is the Civil War. The south was with slavery vs. the north who were fighting to abolish it.
The African empires remained largely as traditionalists and agriculturists. They stayed in their territories working hard to achieve progress. The Swahili city-states were traders and craftsmen. Their culture had been influenced by Middle-Easters and Indian territories. They were able to make dealings with overseas territories which helped them increase their economy.
