Go Back
The Swahili Coast city-states were trading towns like Kilwa, Mombasa, and Zanzibar. They flourished from the 10th to 15th centuries through Indian Ocean trade. They blended African, Arab, Persian, and Indian influences and adopted Islam.
Portuguese arrival in the 15th century disrupted their trade. Oman later controlled the coast. The city-states declined as European and Omani powers dominated.