On The East Coast Of Africa The Swahili Trading Cities

Swahili which is also the name of this people s language means people of the coast eventually the entire coastal area blossomed into a number of important and independent trading cities.

On the east coast of africa the swahili trading cities.

Areas of what is today considered the swahili coast were historically known as azania or zingion in the. Abandoned trade with islam in favor of trade with the europeans. It includes sofala mombasa gede pate island lamu malindi and kilwa. In addition several coastal islands are included in the swahili coast such as zanzibar and comoros.

The swahili city states provided and connected african raw material to the rest of the indian ocean world arabia india persia china and vice versa. Kilwa lies on an island off the coast of tanzania and north of madagascar and archaeological and historical evidence shows that the swahili coast sites conducted an active trade between interior africa and the indian ocean during. Part 1 of our swahili coast articles mainly discussed the role of arab and persian merchants in east african commerce but the indian ocean was an integrated whole with extensive trade among all peoples on the coasts objects from india appear in the archaeological record from as early as the 7th century ad and trade colonies of indian merchants are well attested by the year 1000. The swahili coast located along the shores of east africa was a region where from the 8th century ce africans and arabs mixed to create a unique identity often referred to as swahili culture.

Kilwa and other trading cities of the swahili coast grew out of a complex mix of influences starting on a strong foundation of local east african tradition. The largest swahili culture stonehouse communities so named for their distinctive stone and coral structures are all within 12 mi 20 km of the eastern coast of africa. East africa s swahili coast. The majority of the population involved in the swahili culture however lived in communities that were made up of houses of earth and thatch.

The east coast of africa experiences seasonally alternating trade winds which have enabled sailing dhows to travel up and down the coast fostering the movement of people and goods between the countries of arabia the western indian ocean and east africa for many centuries. The swahili coast is a coastal area of the indian ocean in southeast africa inhabited by the swahili people. Kilwa kisiwani also known as kilwa or quiloa in portuguese is the best known of about 35 medieval trading communities located along the swahili coast of africa. Were decimated following european naval attacks.

Fell entirely within the orbit of the portuguese global trade network. In 1498 when they happened upon the swahili coast the portuguese were trying to establish a direct sea route to the riches of india and china. On the east coast of africa the swahili trading cities select one. Were unique in africa because of their refusal to participate in the slave trade.