1. The Swahili Coast of East Africa
Chapter 8 (3 of 4)

2. Islam Affects East Africa (Swahili Coast)
Converting to Islam made trade easier (so trade increased)
Islamic trading cities emerged along east coast of Africa
Islam was slow to reach the general public (rulers only), so African culture remained strong

3. Africans had contact across Indian Ocean since 1st century
Indonesians and Malaysians settled in Madagascar - introduced bananas and coconuts
East Africa went from homogenous villages to diverse metropolitan communities
East Africa = villages of fishers and farmers (made pottery and ironwork)
Zenj = Arab term for east Africa (By 700s Arabs moved there to trade)

4. Over 30 Cities Emerge in East Africa
Had beautiful, well-constructed towns:
Mogadishu Mombasa Malindi
Kilwa
Pate
Zanzibar

5. Kilwa Wealthy Access to gold from interior
Furthest port south Indians could trade
Exported ivory, gold, iron, slaves for silks from Persia and porcelain from China
Had mosques, tombs, and coral palaces

6. East African Culture
Swahili (coastal) language used – mostly Bantu with Arab words mixed in
Islam didn’t spread much to interior Africa (hunters, pastoralists, and farmers)
Muslim ruled and lived in stone and coral palaces, while unconverted masses lived in mud houses – shows hierarchy/stratification

7. Portuguese eventually attacked and got control of trade
Overall, African traditions lived on more on East coast than in Sudanic kingdoms

8. Terms for Different Regions in Africa
Zenj =
Arab term for east Africa
Swahili =
East Coast of Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa =
Below the Sahara Desert
Muslim term for northeast Africa
Ifriqiya =
Maghrib =
Muslim term for northwest Africa
Sudanic States =
States of west Africa (Ghana, Mali, Songhai)
Sahel =
Savanna south of the Sahara