Video Lesson

Lesson Objectives

After learning this lesson, you will be able to:

• describe about the kind of social interaction that existed in the East Coast of
  Africa
• identify the major Swhali states that flourished in the East Coast of Africa
• explain briefly the kind of trade that existed on the East African coast.

Brainstorming Questions

• What document is the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea? Who produced it?
• What important information do we get from it about the history of the East African coast?

Key Terms

The East Coast, Islam, and Trade

The east coast of Africa, a historically pivotal region, has long been a hub for maritime travel due to the seasonal Indian Ocean monsoon winds that facilitated efficient sea voyages. As early as the 1st century A.D., the Greek merchant guide known as the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea documented the significance of this area. It describes sailing routes along the Red Sea and East African coast, highlighting the abundance of valuable commodities such as ivory, rhino horn, tortoise shell, and palm oil traded in the bustling city-states along this narrow strip of land. This maritime trade network connected East Africa with the broader Indian Ocean world, fostering cultural exchange and economic prosperity in the region.

The coastal region known as the Zanj or Swahili Coast, stretching from Somalia in the north to Mozambique in the south, is characterized by a distinctive culture and language formed from a blend of African, Arab, and Indian Ocean influences. Initially settled by Bantu-speaking Africans migrating eastward from the continent’s interior, these inhabitants spread along the coastline. They engaged in extensive trade among themselves, with inland communities, and eventually with traders from distant lands. Over time, this interaction facilitated the development of a unique Swahili culture, marked by its linguistic diversity, urban centers, and economic prosperity driven by maritime trade routes across the Indian Ocean.

The Zanj coast, encompassing prominent settlements like Shungwaya (Bur Gao), Malindi, Gedi, and Mombasa, flourished by the late medieval period with at least 37 prosperous Swahili trading towns. Despite their wealth, these communities remained decentralized without forming a unified political entity. The ruling and commercial classes in these urban centers were predominantly Arab and Persian immigrants, while the Bantu people inhabited the coastal regions in family groups. Over centuries, the Zanj coast became a significant source of slaves, shipped by Arab traders across countries bordering the Indian Ocean. This trade extended to regions as distant as China, where Zanj slaves were presented as gifts to the Chinese emperor, illustrating the extensive reach and impact of this trade network.

The term “Zanj” fell out of use around the tenth century but regained attention after 1861 when the British forced the Arab Sultan of Zanzibar to separate from Oman. The southeastern coast of Africa, including the Mascarene Islands and Madagascar, became known as the Sea of Zanj during this period. Historical knowledge of the Swahili Coast in the centuries immediately following the Periplus is limited, but archaeological findings suggest early connections with the Roman and Byzantine empires. Detailed historical records begin in the eighth century AD with the arrival of Muslim traders, predominantly Arabs, who settled permanently in the region. In the 12th century, Persian settlers known as Shirazi also arrived, contributing to the cultural diversity of the area.

The Swahili Coast reached its peak during the Medieval Period, spanning roughly from the 11th to the 15th centuries. This era saw the emergence of numerous independent city-states along the coast, united by a common language (Swahili) and religion (Islam). These city-states traded extensively across the Indian Ocean, exchanging goods such as pottery, silks, and glassware. One notable city-state was Kilwa, located on an island off the southern coast of Tanzania. Kilwa maintained a significant trading outpost at Sofala, facilitating trade with the Kingdom of Great Zimbabwe to the south, renowned for its gold wealth. During medieval times, Kilwa stood as one of the most prominent trading centers on the East African coast, illustrating the region’s economic and cultural vibrancy during this period.

During the Medieval Period, one of the most remarkable events along the Swahili Coast was the arrival of the Chinese admiral Zheng He and his fleets. Zheng He led diplomatic expeditions that included massive fleets of hundreds of warships and cargo vessels, intended for both trade and tribute purposes. These expeditions reached as far as Mombasa and Malindi (modern-day Kenya) and Mogadishu (modern-day Somalia). The interactions were significant enough that the Sultan of Malindi sent exotic gifts, including a giraffe, to the Chinese emperor in response to one of these voyages. Despite these exchanges, the Chinese did not establish a permanent presence in East Africa, marking these expeditions as notable yet transient moments in the region’s history.

From 1497 to 1498, Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama undertook a significant expedition around the Cape of Good Hope, marking the beginning of Portuguese influence in the Indian Ocean. They aimed to monopolize trade in the region and established bases along the Swahili Coast. This Portuguese presence disrupted trade and contributed to the decline of the Swahili city-states, although some continued under Omani rule for a few more centuries. Today, Swahili serves as the dominant lingua franca of East Africa, derived from Arabic and integrated with influences from Persian, Portuguese, German, and other languages.