A severe trade imbalance with South Asia forced Roman emissaries to beg spice traders in Tamil Nadu to limit their exports. Somali traders grew rich as middlemen transiting coveted varieties of cinnamon from South Asia to Southern Europe. The gap between Africa and East Asia, including Southeast Asia, is perplexing because we share much in common — culture, values, spirit, and worldview. But in one generation, East Asia achieved wealth, human development, and standards of living that rival a tired, less relevant Western world. All were killed or overthrown by the West — because Africa is a far deeper reservoir of resources than East Asia.

Source: Ethiopian News November 09, 2020 18:45 UTC