The Swahili Coast

Introduction A string of African ports tied into the Indian Ocean trade network Most of these cities were Muslim, but retained Bantu culture and Swahili language By the 8 th and 9 th centuries, visitors and refugees from Oman and the Persian Gulf had established themselves there – the Arabic term for this East African Coast is Zenj

Towns contained mosques, tombs, and palaces Items such as ivory, gold, iron, slaves, and animals were traded for silks and porcelain Kilwa – once city – was particularly wealthy because it controlled the gold trade

Mix of Cultures African culture remained strong during the trading period Swahili mixed Arabic words It was written in Arabic script Islam did not penetrate into the interior of Africa In fact, Islamization was class-based By 1500 – the trade network had shifted from Kilwa to Malindi and Mombasa The Portuguese raided these regions

Forest and Plains People By 1000 – they had a varied agriculture Organized by small village communities Most maintained oral traditions rather than writing Even though they had no writing – they produced a vibrant culture In central Nigeria – particularly the village of Nok – many objects have been found

They practiced agriculture and used iron tools Then there was Ile-Ife (Yoruba state) – they produced terra cotta and bronze portrait heads of past rulers Worked with wood and ivory as well

Yoruba Origins are obscure Spoke non-Bantu language Organized into small city-states Regional kings

Benin Similar to Yoruba The ruler was called “oba”