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History of Swahili Coast
The Swahili Coast peaked during the medieval period. This happened from around the 11th century to the 15th century. During that time, the Swahili Coast was made up of numerous city-states. They traded across the Indian Ocean.Mar 23, 2020
What was the Swahili Coast known for?
The Swahili Coast, an 1,800-mile stretch of Kenyan and Tanzanian coastline, has been the site of cultural and commercial exchanges between East Africa and the outside world – particularly the Middle East, Asia, and Europe – since at least the 2nd century A.D.
How was the Swahili Coast formed?
The original inhabitants of the Swahili Coast were Bantu-speaking Africans, who had migrated east from the continent’s interior. They eventually spread up and down the coast, trading with each other, with the people of the interior, and eventually people from other continents.
When was the Swahili Coast formed?
The Swahili Coast on the shores of East Africa was a region where Africans and Arabs mixed to create a unique identity from the 8th century called Swahili Culture.
Who founded the Swahili Coast?
A Medieval sultanate, centered at Kilwa (an island off modern-day Tanzania), whose authority, at its height, stretched over the entire length of the Swahili Coast. It was founded in the 10th century by Ali ibn al-Hassan Shirazi, a Persian prince of Shiraz.
When did Swahili Coast fall?
It is the largest group within the religion of Islam. The Swahili Coast peaked during the medieval period. This happened from around the 11th century to the 15th century. During that time, the Swahili Coast was made up of numerous city-states.
When did Islam come to Swahili Coast?
Around the year 700, Muslim traders settled in the region. Muslims practice the religion of Islam. Most of the traders were Arabs, meaning they spoke Arabic. In the 1100s, Persian settlers arrived.
What country is the Swahili Coast?
The Swahili coast (Arabic: ?????? ????????) is a coastal area of the Indian Ocean in East Africa inhabited by the Swahili people.
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Swahili coast.
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Swahili coast.
| Swahili coast ?????? ???????? | |
|---|---|
| Countries | Kenya Tanzania Mozambique Comoros |
| Major Cities | Dar es Salaam (Mzizima) Malindi Mombasa Sofala Lamu Zanzibar |
| Ethnic groups | |
Why did Swahili convert to Islam?
Arab traders first introduced Islam to the Swahili coast in the ninth century. Appreciating its religious value, the Swahili people also recognized that adopting their neighbor’s religion would help their trading relationships as well, granting them new access to trade networks.
Why was the Swahili Coast a center of trade?
African merchants from the Swahili coast used oceanic trade routes across the Indian Ocean to trade raw materials such as gold, ivory, and leopard skins to Eurasia for manufactured goods. goods were transported by ship using monsoon winds, and Islam came from Arabia to the Swahili coast.
What created and cemented the rich Swahili culture?
Marriage between women of Africa and men of the Middle East created and cemented a rich Swahili culture, fusing urban and agricultural communities, rich in architecture, textiles, and food, as well as purchasing power.
What is the climate of the Swahili Coast?
The Swahili Coast’s climate is tempered by its proximity to the ocean, and temperatures average in the mid 80s all year long, with lows in the mid 70s from May to September. The Swahili Coast stretches for approximately 1,000 miles along the Indian Ocean from Somalia to Mozambique.
What does the word Kilwa mean?
During its medieval heyday, Kilwa was the principal port in a string of coastal trading cities that formed along what became known as the Swahili Coast. Swahili is derived from an Arabic word meaning coastal dweller and became the name for the regional language.
Who were Omani merchants?
The Omanis were known for building and exporting very good ships, and they traded with precious goods such as frankincense. In the 9th century AD, Oman’s military and merchant fleet was considerably reinforced.
Which African country speak Swahili?
With its origin in East Africa, Swahili speakers spread over more than 14 countries: Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), South Sudan, Somalia, Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia, Comoros, and as far as Oman and Yemen in the Middle East.
Who was the Prophet Muhammad’s first wife?
Khad?jah, (died 619, Mecca, Arabia [now in Saudi Arabia]), merchant who was the first wife of the Prophet Muhammad.
Why did many ancient African merchants and traders convert to Islam?
Another motivation for rulers to adopt Islam besides greater riches with which to impress their people and hold on to power was that a new dynasty may have been bolstered in its claims of legitimacy by also adopting a new religion.
What animal did the Swahili send to China?
On his later voyages, Zheng He visited the Swahili Coast, stopping at Mombasa, Malindi, and Mogadishu in what would have been a spectacular sight for the Swahili people. In response to one of the expeditions, the sultan of Malindi sent the Chinese emperor a giraffe and other unique creatures.
What goods did Mapungubwe farmers take to the Swahili Coast?
Mapungubwe farmers took agricultural produce such as sorghum and cowpeas as well as goods like copper and ivory to the Swahili coast.
Who brought Islam to Africa?
According to Arab oral tradition, Islam first came to Africa with Muslim refugees fleeing persecution in the Arab peninsula. This was followed by a military invasion, some seven years after the death of the prophet Mohammed in 639, under the command of the Muslim Arab General, Amr ibn al-Asi.
What tribes speak Swahili?
Swahili language
| Swahili | |
|---|---|
| Native to | mainly in Tanzania and Kenya, Comoros, Mayotte, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Bajuni Islands (part of Somalia), northern Mozambique (mostly Mwani), Zambia, Malawi, and Madagascar. |
| Ethnicity | WaSwahili |
What is Swahili a mixture of?
Today’s Swahili, a mixture of African and Arab ancestry, trace their origins to this trading relationship. The Swahili use a Bantu-related language laced with Arabic words, and practice Islam, but enjoy music and food that is distinctly African.
Why were Arab settlers particularly influential along the Swahili Coast?
Why were Arab settlers particularly influential along the Swahili Coast? They established many of the trading cities. Which items did the people of Great Zimbabwe take to the markets of the Swahili Coast?
Why was the Swahili Coast a center of trade it was close to the Bantu homeland?
Why was the Swahili Coast a center of trade? It connected African cultures with traders from other regions. It made it different from other North African cultures.
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