Before Islam, the peninsula was religiously varied. Many people followed local, place-based polytheisms — shrines and clan gods that tied worship to a town, a caravan route or a sacred grove. Alongside those local cults you find individuals called hanifs, people described in later Islamic sources as monotheists who rejected idol worship and looked toward Abrahamic-style belief.

Nearer the great empires to the north and east, organized religions left clearer traces. Zoroastrian practice was strong in lands controlled by the Sasanian Persians to the northeast; while most Zoroastrian communities remained outside Arabia proper, cultural and religious ties crossed frontiers.

Christian communities were established in several coastal and inland towns. Najrān, for example, is remembered as a substantial Christian center in late antiquity with bishops, churches and recorded disputes that reached other Christian courts.

Jewish communities lived in a number of oasis towns and coastal settlements — Khaybar and pockets in Yemen among them — where Jewish families played roles in agriculture, trade and local politics for centuries before and after the seventh century.

Sabian or star-worshipping groups, especially around Harran and nearby Mesopotamia, are another element visible in the record; later Muslim writers sometimes grouped these communities with Mandaean or other local traditions.

The religious map changed quickly once Islam began to spread. Islamic tradition dates Muhammad’s first revelation to about 610 CE and his migration to Medina to 622; by 630 Muslims had reentered Mecca, and within a few decades the early Muslim polity expanded across the Near East under the first caliphs. Political control, trade networks and social incentives all helped the new faith spread; in some places conversion followed state structures, in others it was more gradual and lasted generations.

Even after Islam spread across Arabia, older religions didn’t vanish at once — they found new ways to live on. In Persian lands to the northeast people kept Zoroastrian rites in family and community life, and when some groups moved westward they helped form the Parsi community on India’s west coast. In towns across the Levant and Mesopotamia, Christians still met in their churches and kept their worship and rituals alive even as political rulers changed. In Yemen and several oasis settlements, Jewish families stayed for many generations, and it was the large migrations and political turmoil of the twentieth century that greatly reduced those local communities.

The post Religions in the Arabian Peninsula around the 5th century appeared first on Vivid Maps.

The map below created by Reddit user: BlueMetaMind shows the main slave trade routes in the Medieval Age.

The Scale of the Arab Slave Trade

The Arab slave trade spanned from the 7th century to the late 19th century, with some forms of slavery persisting into the modern era. Historians estimate that between 10 to 18 million people were enslaved through this system (Transformations in Slavery: A History of Slavery in Africa by Paul E. Lovejoy [Amazon link]). Slaves were primarily taken from East Africa, the Horn of Africa, and Central Africa, with significant numbers also coming from Europe through raids on the Mediterranean coasts.

Unlike the trans-Atlantic slave trade, which primarily forced men into agricultural labor, the Arab slave trade placed a heavy emphasis on enslaving women and children, who were often subjected to domestic servitude, concubinage, and even castration.

How Did the Trade Operate?

The trade routes of the Arab slave system stretched across vast territories. Some key routes included:

• The Trans-Saharan Route: African slaves were marched across the Sahara Desert to North Africa and the Middle East.
• The Indian Ocean Route: Ships transported enslaved people from East Africa (modern Tanzania, Kenya, Mozambique) to Persia, India, and the Arabian Peninsula.
• The Red Sea Route: Enslaved people were taken from Sudan and Ethiopia and sold in markets across the Islamic world.

These routes fed a demand for slaves across the Middle East, North Africa, and parts of Asia. Many captives died during the brutal marches across the desert or on overcrowded slave ships (Christian Slaves, Muslim Masters: White Slavery in the Mediterranean by Robert C. Davis [Amazon link]).

The Role of Eunuchs and Female Slaves

A key feature of the Arab slave trade was the high demand for eunuchs—men who were castrated before puberty. This practice was widespread in the Ottoman Empire, the Persian Gulf, and Mughal India. Many eunuchs were used as harem guards, palace officials, and military commanders. The castration process was often performed in Sudan or Egypt, and the survival rate was shockingly low—many young boys did not survive the procedure (Race and Slavery in the Middle East: An Historical Enquiry by Bernard Lewis [Amazon link]).

Women made up a significant portion of the enslaved population. Unlike in the trans-Atlantic trade, where men were primarily used for plantation labor, female slaves in the Arab world were often forced into domestic servitude, harems, or concubinage. Many bore children who, in some cases, were integrated into society, while others remained in servitude.

Impact and Legacy

The effects of the Arab slave trade remain visible today:

• Genetic Traces: Studies have shown sub-Saharan African ancestry in populations across the Middle East and South Asia, a direct result of centuries of forced migration. Research indicates that sub-Saharan African genetic contributions in North African populations align with the peak periods of the trans-Saharan slave trade (Haber et al., “A Genetic History of the Near East from an aDNA Time Course Sampling Eight Points in the Past 4,000 Years,” American Journal of Human Genetics, 2020).
• Cultural Influence: In countries like Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq, there are communities of Afro-Arabs whose ancestors were brought through the slave trade.
• A Lingering Stigma: Some Afro-Arab communities still experience discrimination, reflecting historical prejudices tied to the era of slavery.

The Abolition of Slavery in the Arab World

While European colonial powers officially ended the trans-Atlantic slave trade in the 19th century, slavery persisted in the Arab world far longer. Countries such as Saudi Arabia and Yemen only abolished slavery in 1962, while Mauritania officially banned it in 1981—though reports indicate it still exists in some regions (Disposable People by Kevin Bales [Amazon link]).

Why Is This History Overlooked?

Despite its vast scale and lasting impact, the Arab slave trade receives far less attention than its trans-Atlantic counterpart. Some reasons include:

• The scattered nature of historical records (as much of the trade was conducted through private transactions and informal networks).
• The complex legacy in the Islamic world, where slavery was historically justified within certain religious frameworks.
• Political sensitivities, as some governments prefer to avoid addressing this history.

Final Thoughts

The Arab slave trade shaped the demographics, cultures, and histories of vast regions of the world. Its legacy is still evident today in genetics, cultural influences, and ongoing societal issues. Understanding this history is crucial to recognizing the full impact of global slavery.

What are your thoughts on this lesser-known aspect of history? Share in the comments below!

The post The Arab Slave Trade: A Millennium of Human Trafficking appeared first on Vivid Maps.

The Semitic language family is known for its ancient history, with some of its earliest forms dating back thousands of years. One of the most well-known Semitic languages is Arabic, which is spoken by millions of people across the Arab world and is the liturgical language of Islam. Arabic has had a profound influence on literature, science, and culture, both historically and in the contemporary world.

Hebrew is another prominent Semitic language, and it holds significant religious and cultural importance for Jewish communities. It was revived as a spoken language in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, becoming the official language of Israel.

Aramaic, once a dominant language in the ancient Near East, is still spoken in some communities and has historical and religious significance, particularly in Christian traditions. Syriac, a dialect of Aramaic, is used liturgically by several Christian denominations.

Other Semitic languages include Amharic in Ethiopia, Tigrinya in Eritrea, and Ge’ez, which has religious importance in Ethiopian Christianity. In addition to these, there are smaller Semitic languages and dialects spoken in various parts of the Middle East and North Africa.

The map below illustrates the current distribution of Semitic languages.

Semitic languages have left an indelible mark on the history and culture of the regions where they are spoken. They have also contributed to the development of writing systems, including the Phoenician alphabet, which served as the basis for many other writing systems, including the Greek and Latin scripts.

While many Semitic languages continue to thrive today, some face challenges, such as language endangerment or displacement due to cultural, political, or social factors. Despite these challenges, the rich heritage of Semitic languages endures, with a legacy that spans millennia and continues to shape the linguistic and cultural landscape of the Middle East and beyond.

Learning a foreign language? These books will help you become fluent:

• Fluent Forever: How to Learn Any Language Fast and Never Forget It
• The Language Instinct: How the Mind Creates Language

The post Current Semitic Languages in the World Mapped appeared first on Vivid Maps.

Indeed, in recent years, commentary has concentrated on how the internet polarizes various ways of thought. Meanwhile, the very purpose of going online stays a matter of cultural variation. For instance, Peruvians consume more time streaming TV and movies than anyone else, while Filipinos spend a record average of 4 hours and 15 minutes day-to-day on social media. Geo-blocking discourages users in some nations from accessing certain websites, while great swathes of Africa and Asia aren’t online.

Hostinger wants to assist you in creating a website your dream audience wants to visit. So, the Hostinger team has determined and mapped the most visited website worldwide and the top news, banking, fashion, and food website in each nation.

Methodology

To find the most visited site in every nation, Hostinger pulled online ranking data from SEMRUSH, using their ‘All Industries’ section and specific prevalent categories such as ‘Newspapers,’ ‘Banking,’ ‘Apparel
and Fashion,’ and ‘Food and Beverages.’

The team excluded dominant global websites (Google, Facebook, and YouTube) and search engines (Yahoo, Baidu, DuckDuckGo, Naver, and Yandex) to level the playing field and discount middle-man visits. They also didn’t consider adult, betting, illegal downloading/streaming services, and malicious sites and removed the data entries if:

• any data value was missing
• the Main Traffic Source was Social, Referral, or Paid
• Year on Year and Month on Month figures were unrealistic (both over 200%, or YoY over 400%)

Finally, the Hostinger team filtered the data to discover the top site visited in each nation with at least one million internet users. The Hostinger team found the top sites overall and the top website per specific category before showing results in a series of world and continent maps.

The Most Visited Website in Every Country

Wikipedia is the most visited website overall, taking the crown in 43 nations, followed by Twitter, which is favored in 10 countries.

North America

Although Wikipedia is the most visited site in 4 nations, the three most prominent nations in the region prefer to prioritize their time online elsewhere. So while the United States shops on Amazon and Mexico micro-blogs on Twitter, Canada heads to Reddit for their daily dose of internet news.

South America

A broad spectrum of websites claims the most visited status across South America. Uruguay and Brazil see national news outlets Montevideo and UOL take the top spot, whereas Chile and Bolivia frequently head to social sites Twitter and Blogspot. Overall, however, Wikipedia is the most popular site on the continent, as the most visited in Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, and Peru.

Europe

There is a clear-cut winner in Europe for the most visited website, as Wikipedia racks up countless visits across the continent. The digital encyclopedia is the most popular in 15 countries, including Germany, Ireland, and Portugal. Only one other website can claim to be the most visited site in multiple European countries, as vk.com is the most popular in Russia and Belarus.

The Middle East and Central Asia

A broad spectrum of websites lay claim to the most visited status across South America. Uruguay and Brazil see national news outlets Montevideo and UOL take the top spot, whereas Chile and Bolivia frequently head to social sites Twitter and Blogspot. Overall, however, Wikipedia is the most popular site on the continent, as the most visited in Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, and Peru.

Africa

Wikipedia is the most visited site in 8 countries across Africa. However, a trio of websites also rank high as the most visited websites on the continent. Social media site Twitter came out on top in Egypt, South Africa, and Zambia. Mega marketplace Amazon proved most popular in Burundi, Guinea, and Malawi. While sports news site Kooora was the most visited site in Algeria, Ethiopia, and Morocco.

Asia and Oceania

Wikipedia reigns supreme throughout much of Asia and Oceania as the most visited website in 7 countries, including Australia, India, and Pakistan. Social media and blogging sites also prove popular in the region, as Twitter is the most visited site in Indonesia and Laos. New Zealand and Philippines natives flock to Reddit, and Japan frequents Livedoor.

The Most Visited News Website in Every Country

In an ever-connected world, accessing breaking news coverage has become a cornerstone of the internet. According to Reuters, online news sites are now the primary news source for over half the population. Hostinger team research shows that global readers are heading to the BBC most often, making it the most popular site in 12 countries. This is followed by Kooora (8 countries), then Marca, Ria, and The New York Times (5 countries).

The Most Visited Food and Beverage Website

When dinner time rolls around, many of us head online for inspiration and guidance on what to cook. As the domain name suggests, you can find any meal you desire at allrecipies.com, making it the most popular site in seven countries. Russianfood.com closely follows it, as six countries look up the local cuisine famous throughout Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

The Most Visited Fashion Website

Online fashion and apparel sites are booming as consumers browse for the latest additions to their wardrobes. Lured in by competitive prices, speedy delivery, and undeniable convenience, online clothing sales are projected to outstrip in-store sales in 2022, according to The Telegraph, with fast-fashion giant Shein leading the charge as the top fashion site in 26 countries.

The Most Visited Banking Website

Managing your money has never been easier, as online banking allows us to spend, send and save at the click of a button. As almost 2.2 billion people regularly use digital banking services, according to Statista, it’s no surprise that banking websites attract a lot of traffic. Hostinger team found xe.com is the go-to banking site, favored in 9 countries worldwide.

Key Findings

• Wikipedia is the most visited site in 43 nations, more than any other website.
• Amazon is the top site in the United States and 3 other nations by visitor count.
• The most visited site in the United Kingdom is bbc.co.uk.
• The BBC is the most visited news site in most countries (12).

The post The Most Visited Website in Every Country Mapped appeared first on Vivid Maps.

When Did Islam Begin? 

Islam emerged in the 7th century CE (Common Era) in the Arabian Peninsula, specifically in the city of Mecca, which is located in present-day Saudi Arabia. The emergence of Islam is closely associated with the life and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad. According to Islamic tradition, Muhammad received revelations from God (Allah in Arabic) through the angel Gabriel over 23 years. These revelations were eventually compiled into the Quran, the holy book of Islam.

The precise date traditionally considered as the beginning of Islam is the year 610 CE when Muhammad received his first revelation at the age of 40 while meditating in a cave outside Mecca. This event is known as the first revelation or the beginning of Muhammad’s prophethood.

Over the next two decades, Muhammad continued to receive revelations, and he began preaching the message of Islam to the people of Mecca. The core teachings of Islam emphasized the belief in one God (monotheism), the importance of ethical conduct and social justice, and the call to worship and submit to God’s will.

In 622 CE, due to persecution and opposition in Mecca, Muhammad and his followers migrated to the city of Yathrib, later known as Medina, marking the beginning of the Islamic calendar. In Medina, Muhammad established a community and continued to spread the message of Islam. Over the years, Islam gained followers, both in the Arabian Peninsula and beyond.

Muhammad’s death in 632 CE marked the end of his prophethood, but Islam continued to spread rapidly under the leadership of his successors, known as the Caliphs. The expansion of Islam eventually led to the formation of a vast Islamic civilization, including the establishment of the Umayyad and Abbasid caliphates, which played significant roles in the history of the Middle East, North Africa, and parts of Europe and Asia.

The Spread of Islam Around the World

The spread of Islam around the world is a complex historical process that occurred over centuries through a combination of military conquest, trade, cultural diffusion, and missionary activities. Here is an overview of how Islam spread to different regions:

• Arabian Peninsula: After the death of the Prophet Muhammad in 632 CE, his immediate successors, known as the Caliphs, embarked on a series of military campaigns known as the Islamic Conquests (or the Rashidun Caliphate) to spread Islam. They rapidly expanded the Muslim empire into the surrounding regions, including the Byzantine and Sassanian Empires. The spread continued under the Umayyad and Abbasid caliphates, leading to the Arabization and Islamization of these areas.
• North Africa: Arab forces quickly conquered North Africa, including Egypt, in the 7th century. The spread of Islam in North Africa was facilitated by trade routes and the presence of indigenous Berber populations, many of whom converted to Islam.
• Spain and Portugal: The Islamic conquest of the Iberian Peninsula (Al-Andalus) began in 711 CE and resulted in the establishment of a Muslim state in Spain that lasted for several centuries. Al-Andalus was known for its cultural achievements and religious tolerance. It eventually fell to Christian Reconquista forces in the late 15th century.
• Central Asia and India: Islamic armies and traders expanded eastward into Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent. The spread of Islam in these regions often occurred through peaceful means, such as trade networks and the efforts of Sufi mystics who attracted followers. The Delhi Sultanate in India was one of the early Muslim dynasties.
• East Asia: Islam reached Southeast Asia, China, and the Philippines through trade routes and interactions with Arab and Indian traders. In Southeast Asia, many regions adopted Islam gradually, alongside indigenous religious practices.
• West Africa: Trade routes across the Sahara Desert played a significant role in spreading Islam to West Africa. The Mali and Songhai Empires, among others, converted to Islam and became centers of Islamic scholarship.
• Sub-Saharan Africa: Islam spread further south in Africa through trade, migration, and the influence of Islamic scholars and merchants. Regions like East Africa and the Swahili Coast adopted Islam and became deeply integrated into local cultures.
• Southeastern Europe: The Ottoman Empire, which emerged in the 14th century, expanded into southeastern Europe and reached as far as Vienna, Austria. Islam was a significant part of the Ottoman identity and was influential in the Balkans and parts of southeastern Europe.
• South Asia: The Mughal Empire, founded in the 16th century, played a crucial role in spreading Islam in the Indian subcontinent. However, Hinduism remained the majority religion, and the two coexisted with varying degrees of tension and harmony.

In the modern era, Muslim immigration, missionary work, and the global spread of Islamic ideas through media and communication have contributed to the presence of Islam in various parts of the world, including Europe, North America, and Oceania. Islam has become one of the world’s major religions, with over a billion followers worldwide.

The animated world map below shows areas ruled by Muslims from 1650 to 2023. During this time, the Islamic world has experienced significant changes, including the rise and fall of empires, colonialism, decolonization, and modernization.

The Countries with the Largest Muslim Populations

The most populous Muslim countries in the world are characterized by significant Muslim majorities and diverse cultures. Indonesia holds the distinction of having the largest Muslim population globally, with over 230 million Muslims. Pakistan follows closely behind with more than 200 million Muslims, while India boasts one of the largest Muslim populations, with over 190 million adherents, alongside its rich religious diversity.

You can learn more about Islam from the following books:

• Islam Explained: A Short Introduction to History, Teachings, and Culture
• In the Shadow of the Sword: The Birth of Islam and the Rise of the Global Arab Empire

The post Areas Ruled by Muslims appeared first on Vivid Maps.

But, perhaps because tiling as an industry took off in Victorian times, the wonder of the tile is often overlooked. After all, can there be true glamour in a decoration whose use depends on a substance called ‘grout’? Actually, yes. From vintage patterns to streamlined sophistication, tiling can make anybody’s bathroom or kitchen a place they want to be.

While some cultures have a world-famous tiling tradition from which to draw inspiration, others are less well known. That’s why QS Supplies decided to create a mapped guide to the most desirable tile designs from every country on Earth…

World Map

Ceramic tiles are one of the oldest forms of material art. Besides their sustainability and captivating beauty, they reveal a lot about a place’s history and culture. Tiles have been used worldwide for thousands of years, adorning the interiors and exteriors of buildings, from cathedrals and palaces to the everyday home. Most nations have their unique design styles. Some have changed throughout the years, whereas some remain unchanged and are just as popular today.

Europe

Ceramic tiles have been displayed and crafted since the 4th century worldwide. In the 16th-17th century. Modern Europe saw the rise of Delft tiles, which helped influence tile designs all over Europe in modern society. Delft Tiles were originally Chinese porcelain designs but soon integrated into Dutch imagery and later into other counties in Europe. On the other hand, Greek mosaics are known to be some of the earliest forms of art, dating back to the 3rd Millennium BC.

The Middle East and Central Asia

Popularity in handmade and hand-painted ceramics flourished during the Islamic Period, where you would find stunning tile works in Tunisia and Iran dating back to the 9th century. Known for their distinctive style, Iznik ceramics were produced in the 15th century during the Ottoman Empire, their design combining traditional Ottoman arabesque patterns with Chinese elements.

North America

Although Ceramic tiles only began their journey in the United States around the 1870s, other countries in North America, such as Mexico, had their own traditional Talavera Spanish Pottery Tiles, which began in the 16th century. Its ceramic techniques were known to be of Indigenous, Spanish, and Italian influence. Cuba, El Salvador, Puerto Rico, Panama, and the Dominican Republic also use similar styles and designs that are influenced by the Spanish during the 16th century.

South America

Azulejos heavily influenced South American tiles, a form of Portuguese and Spanish painted tin-glazed ceramic tile that dates back to the 16th century. With bursts of yellow, red, blue, white, and green, these beautifully designed tiles are an ornamental art form. They typically feature images, such as flowers, suns, and specific geometric patterns.

Africa

It is believed that the earliest form of tile making came out of the Holy Land and in North-East Africa, around the 3rd and 4th centuries BC. Zellij tilework is a particular ceramic that is popular in Moroccan architecture. Originating from Islamic artwork, this mosaic style is made from hand-chiseled tile pieces set with a plaster base. Tunisian ceramics captured the true beauty of enameled tiles and pottery in the 18th century. This continued in Nabeul during the 20th century, after the city became the capital of Tunisian ceramics.

Asia and Oceania

China has been producing tiles for the mass market for thousands of years, with porcelain being extremely popular in the 17th century. Chinese Ming porcelain is a unique blue and white design used for tiles, plates, and bowls. Other countries in this corner of the world, such as Japan and India, were greatly influenced by designs from around the world, ranging from traditional Islamic designs and patterns to 19th-century Victorian styles.

Methodology

QS Supplies gathered information on tile designs throughout every country across the world. They began by working through a list of countries and getting notable design styles.

The team cross-referenced this with information found on Pinterest and Dreamstime, which gave us a grand vision of how tiles look worldwide and the subtle/vast differences between them.

The world of tiling dates back to as early as the 4th century BC. From that point, Egyptians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Ottomans, Victorians, Chinese, and the Dutch all had an artistic ideology around art, and all similarly took influence from previous styles and designs. This meant a comprehensive approach was required to ensure our information was correct. To ensure this, QS Supplies sourced information from professionals such as ceramists, archaeologists, and historians to decide which tiles originated from/are the most notable from every corner of the world.

I collected the data in February 2022.

The post World Map Depicting Traditional Tile Designs From Every Country appeared first on Vivid Maps.

Learning a new language is a challenge that many people have taken on over the past year.

Teaching yourself to speak a foreign language while airports were closed may seem loco. But learning a new language gives a taste of another culture, keeps your brain active and healthy, and helps you think and see in new ways.

But what languages are individuals in different countries most interested in learning?

This new study from WordTips digs into Google search data to uncover which language each country is most interested in learning.

WordTips compiled a list of the top 50 most spoken languages based on their previous article ‘The 100 Most-Spoken Languages in the World.’
Then the WordTips team translated the following phrases into 119 languages:
● [Language Name] language (e.g. “English language”);
● Study Language Name;
● Learn Language Name

Then the team used Ahrefs to identify monthly Google search volumes of those phrases translated to one of the country’s official or widely used languages. Then WordTips summed up the monthly search volumes of the phrases and found out the two most popular languages in every country.

Finally, they enriched the study’s data with the number of internet users and calculated the number of yearly searches per 1000 internet users. The data was collected in May 2021.

The most sought-after language in each country

Most popular language in every country

The maps below show reveals the most sought-after language on every continent.

North America

South America

Europe

Middle East and Central Asia

Africa

The rest of Asia and Oceania

Below the World Map showing the second most popular language that each country wants to learn.

Second-most popular language in every country

Second-most popular language

Interesting Findings

● English is the most popular language to learn in 98 countries.
● Spanish is the second most popular language in 14 countries.
● Japanese is very popular in the English-speaking world — it’s the most popular language to learn in Canada, the USA, Australia, and New Zealand.
● Ukraine has the highest interest in the local language, with 25.94 yearly searches per 1,000 internet users for Ukrainian.
● Arabic is the most popular language to learn in 12 countries — Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Maldives, Niger, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
● The Korean language is surprisingly trendy in multiple South American countries. It likely can be explained by a combination of the reasons:
○ the popularity of the Korean culture among the young generation;
○ relatively small interest in learning languages in Spanish-speaking countries overall (supposedly because of tons of content in Spanish);
○ The alphabetical writing system (in contrast with the logographic one in Chinese and Japanese) makes the language simpler to learn for Latin languages speakers.
● It is estimated that up to 30 million Argentines have some degree of Italian ancestry (62.5% of the total population), so it is not surprising that the most popular language to learn in Argentina is Italian.
● Russian is still prevalent in the countries of the former USSR. It is the second-most popular language in Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan (everywhere after English), and the most popular in Armenia. However, none of the local languages of these countries were in the research because we limited the list to only 50 most spoken languages.

The post Which language does every country want to learn? appeared first on Vivid Maps.

But this is not just good advice for the entrepreneur looking to expand their business. It’s a legal and practical necessity to establish your business in the first place. That’s because, contrary to popular belief, the most challenging part about running a business may not be finding customers; it’s getting one started.

Depending on your country’s public policies and application processes, you might need more or less cash to be able to get a business up and running.

New business owners must shell out for approvals, licenses, permits, and inscriptions. In addition, governments often require a business to have a paid-in minimum capital requirement – a set amount of cash in the bank.

These processes are not just expensive but time-consuming and complicated.

BusinessFinancing.co.uk used information from The World Bank’s Doing Business 2020 report to gather the cost and paid-in minimum capital requirement for a small- to medium-size limited liability company to start up and formally operate in the largest business cities across 190 countries.

Business Financing team calculated the affordability of starting a business in each country based on the adjusted net national income per capita taken from The World Bank.

The total cost of starting a business

The total cost relative to the monthly average income

Europe

Europe has some significant diversity in the cost of starting a business. In Slovenia, you can begin a business for free, as long as your starting capital is at least $7,066. In Italy, it will cost more than twice the average monthly income ($4,914).

North America

Belize is the best place to start a business in North America, costing just $99. In contrast, the price in the Bahamas can seem impossible with a startup cost of $1,810, over 10x the average monthly income.

South America

In South America, Venezuela is the most affordable nation to start a business, requiring only $0.21. The most expensive is Suriname, topping out at $3,030.

Africa

Africa has some of the most significant cost variations between countries for beginning your own business. In Rwanda, it’s free. However, in terms of price and affordability, the most costly nation for starting a business is Equatorial Guinea, requiring a massive $2,321.

The Middle East and Central Asia

If you dwell in the United Arabic Emirates, you’ll be shelling out $7,443. But if you begin your business in Kyrgyzstan, you will only be paying $8.

The Rest of Asia and Oceania

In the Rest of Asia and Oceania, Cambodia is the most costly place on the continent in terms of price and affordability, with a cost of $746. On the other hand, people in Timor Leste have it easy, paying just $10.

Key Findings

● The United Arab Emirates is the most costly nation to begin a business, with start-up costs of $7,443.51.
● There are no fees to start a business in Rwanda for the first 2 years, and in Slovenia, the just ‘cost’ is a capital requirement of €7,500 with no fees.
● Beginning a new business is least affordable in Congo, where $1,232 in fees equates to 2,554% of the average monthly income.
● In Kazakhstan, it takes just 2% of the average monthly payment ($12 against $531) to start a business.

The post The most and least affordable countries for starting a business, mapped appeared first on Vivid Maps.

Website Reservations team aspired to take things to an extra level and had an exciting idea: what if you could travel the entire world for a year in ideal weather?

A map below shows a 52-week dream journey in perfect weather, between 70-75 °F, or 21-24 °C. It’s a comfort temperature amongst the majority of people.

Reservations.com thoroughly planned and mapped a single year that travels through 52 cities across the world resting at the perfect temperature.

Latin America

January 1 – Bariloche (Argentina)
January 8 – Valparaiso (Chili)
January 15 – Arequipa (Peru)
January 22 – Guatape (Colombia)
January 29 – Panajachel (Guatemala)
February 5 – La Paz (Mexico)
February 12 – Monterrey (Mexico)

North Africa

February 19 – La Palmas (Spain)
February 26 – Marrakesh (Morocco)
March 5 – Tozeur (Tunisia)
March 12 – Cairo (Egypt)

Middle East

March 19 – Tel Aviv (Israel)
March 26 – Haifa (Israel)
April 2 – Baalbek (Lebanon)
April 9 – Antalya (Turkey)

Europe

April 16 – Larnaca (Cyprus)
April 23 – Chania (Greece)
April 30 – Catania (Italy)
May 7 – Napoli (Italy)
May 14 – Split (Croatia)
May 21 – Rabat (Malta)
June 4 – Lisbon (Portugal)
June 11 – Bordeaux (France)
June 18 – Geneva (Switzerland)
June 25 – Berlin (Germany)

Africa

July 2 – Nairobi (Kenya)
July 9 – Monkey Bay (Malawi)
July 14 – Siavonga (Zambia)
July 19 – Hwange (Zimbabwe)
July 30 – Pretoria (South Africa)
August 6 – Baie du Tombeau (Mauritius Island)

Asia

August 13 – Darjeeling (India)
August 18 – Paro (Bhutan)
August 23 – Ulan-Ede (Russia)
September 1 – Mongolia (Ulaanbaatar)
September 8 – Sapporo (Japan)
September 15 – Sokcho (South Korea)
September 22 – Beijing (China)
September 29 – Tokyo (Japan)

Australia

October 6 – Adelaide (Australia)
October 13 – Perth (Australia)
October 20 – Sidney (Australia)

North America

October 27 – Napa (United States)
November 5 – Los Angeles (United States)
November 9 – Las Vegas (United States)
November 15 – Austin (United States)
November 22 – New Orleans (United States)
December 2 – Orlando (United States)
December 9 – Everglades (United States)
December 15 – Mount Pleasant (Bermuda)
December 25 – Freeport (Bahamas)

Approximately estimate that it would overall cost $26,000 – $52,000 USD ($500 – $1,000 per week) to do this journey.

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The most popular and well-known medieval trade networks included:

The Silk Road was the most famous trade network of the medieval period, connecting China in the East to the Mediterranean world in the West. It facilitated the exchange of goods, such as silk, spices, precious metals, textiles, and ceramics. Alongside trade, the Silk Road also played a significant role in cultural exchanges, including the spread of religions like Buddhism, Islam, and Christianity, as well as technologies, art, and scientific knowledge.

The Indian Ocean trade network was a vast and bustling system that connected regions surrounding the Indian Ocean, including the Arabian Peninsula, the East African coast, India, Southeast Asia, and China. Valuable commodities like spices, textiles, precious gems, and ceramics were traded along these routes. Coastal cities and ports became hubs of commerce and cultural exchange.

The Trans-Saharan trade network connected North Africa, particularly the Islamic empires of the Maghreb and Sahel regions, with sub-Saharan Africa. Major commodities included gold, salt, ivory, and slaves. The cities of Timbuktu and Gao in West Africa played central roles in this trade.

The Hanseatic League in northern Europe was a powerful trading association of merchant guilds and market towns. It dominated trade in the Baltic and North Seas, facilitating the exchange of goods like timber, fish, grains, and furs. The league had a significant influence over trade in the region.

The Mediterranean Sea served as a major trade route connecting Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. Cities like Venice, Genoa, and Alexandria were major trading centers. Goods such as textiles, spices, ceramics, and precious metals were exchanged, and the Mediterranean was a melting pot of cultures and trade networks.

The Baltic Sea was a vital trade route for northern Europe, linking the Hanseatic League with Scandinavia and Russia. Goods such as amber, fur, timber, and grains were traded. Cities like Novgorod in Russia and Lübeck in Germany were significant trading hubs.

Trade Routes of Central Asia interconnected various parts of Asia, including the Middle East, Central Asia, and the Indian subcontinent. They were instrumental in the spread of cultures, religions, and technologies. The Silk Routes of Central Asia were a crucial part of this network.

Below is the map of medieval trade networks created by Martin Hansson.

These popular medieval trade networks facilitated not only the exchange of goods but also the flow of ideas, culture, and technologies. They contributed to economic growth, urbanization, and the development of a globalized world during the medieval period.

Want to learn more about medieval trade networks? Then have a look at:

• The Silk Roads: A New History of the World
• Winds of the Steppe: Walking the Great Silk Road from Central Asia to China
• The Crusades and Silk Road: A Captivating Guide to Religious Wars During the Middle Ages and an Ancient Network of Trade Routes

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