On The East Coast Of Africa The Swahili Trading Cities

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.

On the east coast of africa the swahili trading cities.

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 majority of the population involved in the swahili culture however lived in communities that were made up of houses of earth and thatch. 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. 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.

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. The swahili coast is a coastal area of the indian ocean in southeast africa inhabited by the swahili people. 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. 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.

Swahili trading communities. It includes sofala mombasa gede pate island lamu malindi and kilwa. Moving up the east african coast in the late fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries the portuguese sacked some swahili cities and tried to tax trade. Were unique in africa because of their refusal to participate in the slave trade.

Fell entirely within the orbit of the portuguese global trade network. Swahili city states were trading states along the east coast of africa from kenya to mozambique. In addition several coastal islands are included in the swahili coast such as zanzibar and comoros. East africa s swahili coast.

Abandoned trade with islam in favor of trade with the europeans. 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. Were decimated following european naval attacks. 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.