The country of Somalia has a dynamic culture. The country's diverse history, people trends and economy have undergone many changes. Today, Somalia continues to grow and adapt to the global economy. Origin: It's unclear exactly when people began living here, but archaeological studies have found cave paintings and cemeteries that place inhabitants there as early as the Paleolithic. One rock painting in particular, believed to be the oldest rock art on the African continent, is dated around 9000 BC. The people of Somalia are predominantly nomadic and made up of clans. In its early years, Muslims who avoided religious persecution settled in Somalia. These groups moved from the Middle East across the Red Sea to the northern part of Somalia. Living conditions in Somalia were harsh and people adopted a nomadic lifestyle. Other groups moved out of Kenya and moved north in search of water and grazing land. Clans would inhabit an area until water or food ran out, then they would move to a more resource-rich area. Many settlements also sprang up along the coast. These settlements were stimulated by trade with the Persians and Arabs. One of these settlements, Saylac, became the center of trade in the nascent country. Muslim culture and learning thrived in Saylac, and the city soon became the capital. Many people frequented the city, especially Ethiopian expeditions. The boom in trade here helped the city evolve, but the Ethiopian attacks proved too much and the city began to crumble. Somalia's expansion continues. Settlers moved north to the mountains, east to the plains bordering Ethiopia, and south to the more fertile river valleys. The Somali people use a clan-type social system. Somali comes from Samaal, ...... middle of paper ......2. Despite efforts, teachers failed to reach most school-age children. The nomadic lifestyle prevented them from staying near a school long enough to finish. The Somali National University was founded in Mogadishu in 1970. The university offered courses in agriculture, business, education, engineering, geology, law, medicine, science and veterinary medicine. Unfortunately the university has had a high dropout rate. In 1990, the United Nations estimated that the literacy rate in Somalia was 24%. In 1991, after the fall of the Barre regime, the schools largely disappeared. Education fell to the clans or communities until the establishment of the Ministry of Education. The ministry currently oversees the entire education system in Somalia. Increases were noted at all levels of education due primarily to a central ordering of the education system. Economy: