Swahili City-states
Definition
These were medieval trading cities along the coast of East Africa, from Kenya to Mozambique. They flourished between 800-1500 AD due to their strategic location between interior Africa and Indian Ocean trade routes.
Analogy
Imagine Swahili city-states like modern-day coastal tourist towns that thrive on visitors coming through on cruise ships - except instead of tourists, they had traders; instead of cruise ships, they had dhows (traditional sailing vessels).
Related terms
Dhow: A traditional sailing vessel with one or more masts typically used by Arab sailors across the Indian Ocean.
Bantu Migration: The historical movement over several centuries by Bantu-speaking people from West Africa eastward and southward into new territories. This migration helped spread language and culture throughout Africa including the Swahili city-states.
Kilwa Kisiwani: One of the most famous Swahili city-states, known for its great wealth and beautiful architecture.
"Swahili City-states" appears in:
Practice Questions (4)
- How did the Swahili city-states of East Africa primarily interact with other societies during this period?
- How did Indian Ocean trade influence Swahili city-states between the 8th and 16th centuries?
- How did Islam influence Swahili city-states differently than it did West African empires like Ghana and Mali during this period?
- Which development best represents Swahili city-states' response to increasing Indian Ocean commerce between the twelfth and fourteenth centuries?
Resources
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