Nanjing, Venice, Mogadishu were powerful and influential cities in the 13th century because they were the centers for global trade and commerce. These cities were the places where trading flourished greatly. The port of Mogadishu has been the main center for trade for a long time. Mogadishu is the capital of Somalia and also the largest city. Venice was also a city that encouraged trade greatly and this was the main reason behind the flourishing of this place. These places became powerful on the basis of the amount of trading that took place here.