SWAHILI CITY STATES

FORMATION

• 11th-12th centuries
• Trade with Islamic merchants made chiefs wealthier
• Developed into city-states ruled by kings

LIST OF CITY STATES

• Mogadishu, Lamu, Malindi
• Mombasa, Zanzibar
• Kilwa, Mozambique, Sofala

KILWA

• Busy city state
• On the east coast of Africa
• Had many stone buildings and mosques
• Participated in Indian Ocean Basin trade
• Sacked by the Portuguese

COLLAPSE

• Vasco de Gama skirmished with Swahili forces
• 1505: all city-states from Sofala to Mombasa were subdued
• Portuguese administrative centers at Mozambique and Malindi
• Forts disrupted trade patterns, which led to Swahili collapse