← Explore on the interactive map

Kilwa Sultanate

Type Object Region East Africa Time c. 957–1513

The Kilwa Sultanate was one of the most important maritime trading city-state polities on the East African Swahili Coast from the 10th to 16th centur…

Timeline

  1. c. 957–1000Kilwa Kisiwani · TanzaniaAccording to the Kilwa Chronicle, the Persian Shirazi noble Ali ibn Hassan al-Shirazi crossed by sea from Hormuz to East Africa, purchased Kilwa island, and established a port, setting the Swahili city-state model of hereditary sultanate rule and coral-stone and lime construction.
  2. c. 1071–1080Kilwa–Sofala trade corridor · western Indian OceanIn the 11th century, the Kilwa Sultanate expanded southward, ruling vassal ports such as Sofala and monopolizing the maritime export of gold from the Zimbabwe Plateau; geographers such as al-Idrisi recorded its wealth, and stone structures like the Great Mosque were expanded in the same period, marking the peak of city-state organization and the Indian Ocean commercial network.
  3. 1500–1513Kilwa Kisiwani · TanzaniaPortuguese fleets established forts along the East African coast and struck at Muslim trade routes, capturing Kilwa in 1513; the sultanate lost its independent political status, and control of Indian Ocean trade gradually shifted to European colonial powers.

Sources