In addition several coastal islands are included in the swahili coast such as zanzibar and comoros.
On the east coast of africa the swahili trading cities.
Swahili city states were trading states along the east coast of africa from kenya to mozambique.
It includes sofala mombasa gede pate island lamu malindi and kilwa.
Areas of what is today considered the swahili coast were historically known as azania or zingion in the.
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.
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.
The swahili coast is a coastal area of the indian ocean in southeast africa inhabited by the swahili people.
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 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.
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.
On the east coast of africa the swahili trading cities select one.
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.
Fell entirely within the orbit of the portuguese global trade network.
The majority of the population involved in the swahili culture however lived in communities that were made up of houses of earth and thatch.
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.
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.
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 unique in africa because of their refusal to participate in the slave trade.
Abandoned trade with islam in favor of trade with the europeans.
Were decimated following european naval attacks.
East africa s swahili coast.
