Mesopotamia's rivers (Tigris and Euphrates) are key to their civilization. Because of the rivers Sumerians (Mesopotamia's people) could trade and travel through them. Grain, oils and textiles were taken from Babylonia to foreign cities and exchanged for timber, wine, precious metals and stones. In addition, merchants from other countries travelled to Babylonia to exchange their goods.
The Songhai empire was where islam flourished and in places like the port city of Timbuktu, many Islamic schools and Mosques were built for the increasing population.
