On The East Coast Of Africa The Swahili Trading Cities

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

On the east coast of africa the swahili trading cities. 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. 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. 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 select one. 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. Swahili trading communities. Were unique in africa because of their refusal to participate in the slave trade.

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. 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. 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.

Were decimated following european naval attacks. Abandoned trade with islam in favor of trade with the europeans. 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. Areas of what is today considered the swahili coast were historically known as azania or zingion in the.

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. 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. East africa s swahili coast. 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.