Which was an influence on the Swahili Coast?
As a consequence of long-distance trading routes crossing the Indian Ocean, the Swahili were influenced by Arabic, Persian, Indian, and Chinese cultures. During the 10th century, several city-states flourished along the Swahili Coast and adjacent islands, including Kilwa, Malindi, Gedi, Pate, Comoros, and Zanzibar.
What was the importance of the Swahili Coast?
Wonders of the African World – Episodes – The Swahili Coast. The Swahili Coast, an 1,800-mile stretch of Kenyan and Tanzanian coastline, has been the site of cultural and commercial exchanges between East Africa and the outside world – particularly the Middle East, Asia, and Europe – since at least the 2nd century A.D.
What culture influenced the Swahili people?
The Swahili culture has a large Arab influence and the word 'Swahili' fittingly means 'coast' in Arabic. 7 With this region being a part of the Indian Ocean trade during the 8th century, Persian, Indian, and Chinese cultures had a significant influence on the Swahili people.
Was Swahili influenced by Islam?
While the Swahili people did adopt Islam, they also infused it with new traditions and made it their own. From burials to the physical space of the mosques, they create new Islamic traditions that reflect their own African culture.
What culture along the east coast of Africa was a blend of African and Arab language and traditions?
The Swahili Coast on the shores of East Africa was a region where Africans and Arabs mixed to create a unique identity from the 8th century called Swahili Culture. Swahili is the name of their language and means 'people of the coast.
Why was the Swahili Coast a center of trade?
The Swahili coast became the center of trade because it had sea ports where vessels from across the Indian Ocean could dock.
Why was the Swahili coast a center of trade?
The Swahili coast became the center of trade because it had sea ports where vessels from across the Indian Ocean could dock.
Why were East African coastal states economically successful during the tenth century?
The ancient peoples of what would become the Swahili Coast prospered thanks to agriculture and animal husbandry, aided by a regular annual rainfall and shallow coastal waters plentiful in seafood.
How was Swahili influenced by Arabic?
The language dates from the contacts of Arabian traders with the inhabitants of the east coast of Africa over many centuries. Under Arab influence, Swahili originated as a lingua franca used by several closely related Bantu-speaking tribal groups.
How did the integration of Arabian and African cultures lead to the development of the Swahili culture?
Arabs came with their Islamic religion which they introduced to the Swahili people. Another cultural aspect is the language; over a period of contact between Arabs and Swahili, intermarriage took place, trade expanded, and Islam rapidly spread along the coast of East Africa, resulting in cultural integration.
Does Swahili have Arabic influence?
Swahili has been greatly influenced by Arabic; there are an enormous number of Arabic loanwords in the language, including the word swahili, from Arabic sawāḥilī (a plural adjectival form of an Arabic word meaning “of the coast”).
How did the Arabian civilization influence Africa?
People and goods traveled between the two regions well before the rise of Islam in the 600s. ETHIOPIA was one of the first areas in eastern Africa to be influenced by Arab culture. By about A.D. 100, people from southern Arabia had reached Ethiopia by sea, bringing their language and their ability to build in stone.
What was the main cause of the development of Swahili culture?
Archaeological work indicates that Swahili culture emerged as a package from about 1250CE as the result of the indigenous Iron Age cultures absorbing influences from the Kenyan coast (Chami 2002, 1).
What did the Swahili coast trade?
During that time, the Swahili Coast comprised numerous city-states that traded across the Indian Ocean. The city-states were independent sultanates, although they shared a common language (Swahili) and religion (Islam). They traded across the Indian Ocean for items, such as pottery, silks, and glassware.
Why was the Swahili coast a center of trade it was close to the Bantu homeland?
Why was the Swahili Coast a center of trade? It connected African cultures with traders from other regions. It made it different from other North African cultures.
What did the Swahili Coast trade?
During that time, the Swahili Coast comprised numerous city-states that traded across the Indian Ocean. The city-states were independent sultanates, although they shared a common language (Swahili) and religion (Islam). They traded across the Indian Ocean for items, such as pottery, silks, and glassware.
Why are Swahili and Arabic similar?
Swahili is predominantly a mix of local Bantu languages and Arabic. Decades of intensive trade along the East African coast resulted in this mix of cultures. Besides Arabic and Bantu, Swahili also has English, Persian, Portuguese, German and French influences due to trade contact.
What effects did Arab traders have on Swahili culture?
As the Arabs traded in East Africa, they intermarried with the Swahili people. The Arabs also introduced their religion to the Swahili people that led to the majority of Swahili converting to Islam.
Why does Swahili have Arabic?
But it's blindingly obvious that Arabic had a great influence on Swahili. Historically, we understand that this influence came via trade with Arabs and through the influence of religion (Islam). It's also interesting to note the types of Arabic words that got a foothold in Swahili.
How did Arab traders influence the culture of Africa’s east coast?
Between the eighth and ninth centuries, Arab traders and travelers, then African clerics, began to spread the religion along the eastern coast of Africa and to the western and central Sudan (literally, “Land of Black people”), stimulating the development of urban communities.
What was the impact of Arab trade on the three great empires of West Africa?
Extensive trade routes brought the people of Ghana into contact with people of many different cultures and beliefs. As the kingdom of Ghana extended into the Sahara, increased contact with Arab traders from the east brought the religion of Islam to Ghana.
Why was the Swahili Coast a center of trade quizlet?
Why was the Swahili Coast a center of trade? It connected African cultures with traders from other regions. It made it different from other North African cultures.
Is Swahili influenced by Arabic?
Swahili has been greatly influenced by Arabic; there are an enormous number of Arabic loanwords in the language, including the word swahili, from Arabic sawāḥilī (a plural adjectival form of an Arabic word meaning “of the coast”).
How long have Arab merchants settled on the Swahili coast?
Starting with the eighth century C.E.—when Muslim traders, mostly Arabs, came to settle permanently in the region—historical records became more detailed. Later, in the 12th century, Persian settlers—known as the Shirazi—arrived. Today, the vast majority of Swahili people are Sunni Muslims.
How did the arrival of Arab traders influence life in Eastern Africa quizlet?
Arab, Persian, and Asian merchants arrived in East African city-states to set up their trade. From these traders, the city-states acquired ivory, leopard skins, metals, slaves, spices, silk, etc. This trade helped local rulers build strong, independent city-states.
How did the use of Arabic in West Africa become an important tool for historians?
How did the use of Arabic in West Africa become an important tool for historians? Scholars used Arabic to write about the history and culture of West Africa. What two new architectural changes were influenced by Islam? Answer: People designed mosques and brick, flat-roofed houses.
What was brought to the Swahili coast by traders?
The city-states were independent sultanates, although they shared a common language (Swahili) and religion (Islam). They traded across the Indian Ocean for items, such as pottery, silks, and glassware.
How did culture spread along East Africa’s Swahili coast quizlet?
Which best explains the spread of culture along East Africa's Swahili coast? African culture mingled with traditions carried by Arab traders. Which religion had a major influence on East African cultures after being brought there by foreign traders? Islam.
How did the arrival of Arab traders influence life in the Eastern Africa?
East African trade created an entire new language when the Bantu-speaking people and the Arabs started interacting with one another. East African trade also introduced Islam to the east coast of Africa. The Muslim traders brought Islam to east Africa and it quickly spread.
How did Arabic affect the history of West African culture?
As Islam spread in West Africa, people adopted new religious practices and ethical values. African Muslims learned Islam's Five Pillars of Faith. They prayed in Arabic, fasted, worshiped in mosques, went on pilgrimages, and gave alms. They were taught to regard all Muslims as part of a single community.