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Kilwa Sultanate Expansion
From the late 12th to early 13th century, the Kilwa Sultanate on East Africa's Swahili coast rapidly expanded via Indian Ocean trade networks, contro…
Timeline
- 1190–1195Kilwa Kisiwani · TanzaniaBy controlling port tariffs and trade routes, Kilwa gradually integrated coastal outposts such as Sofala and Mtambwe, bringing the ivory, gold, and slave trades under unified coordination.
- 1195–1199Swahili Coast · Swahili CoastKilwa minted gold coins, built mosques and stone structures, and established stable trade relations with Arab, Persian, and Indian merchants, becoming the most influential political and commercial center on the East African coast.
Sources
- Kilwa Kisiwani https://www.britannica.com/place/Kilwa
- Kilwa: an Islamic trading city on the East African coast — G. S. P. Freeman-Grenville (1962)