East Africa’s Great Trading Centers

1. East Africa’s Great Trading Centers • Kilwa- One of the greatest trading centers. Was along the coast of East Africa • It was an Islamic city where the rulers charged taxes on all goods that entered the ports which in turn made Kilwa rich • Aksum- Important trade center, in present day ethiopia • Although the city of Aksum was located in the Mountains about 100 miles inland, it controlled a trading port at Adulis on the Red Sea • It grew steadily in strength and wealth • One of the main goods they controlled was Ivory and was highly valued for carving • During the 300’s, King Ezana learned about a new religion- Christianity

2. Soon the king became a Christian and made Christianity the official religion • For several hundred years, Aksum kept its control of the major trade routes linking Africa with Europe and Asia • In 600, Muslims fought with the rules of Aksum for control of the Red Sea trade routes • Eventually, the muslims conquered the coastal ports • Muslim conquest of the coast ended the trade that had given Aksum its power and wealth

3. Lalibela and the Spread of Christianity • After Aksum lost power, Christian kings of the region built churches and monasteries but they did not build a new capital • Instead they moved from place to place around the kingdom where they lived in royal tents and were accompanied by thousands of citizens and servants • Many neighboring lands converted to Islam but Ethiopia stayed Christian • They had little contact with Christian people so they developed their own version of Christianity • Around 1200, King Lalibela built churches that were carved into the solid red rock

5. Rich Centers of Trade • After Muslims gained control Indian Ocean trade, trade centers developed along the east coast of Africa • Each port was a city-state. By 1400 there were about 30 city-states on the coast • Trade flourished in East Africa because the region supplied goods like gold and ivory that were very scarce outside of Africa • In return, Muslims brought things to Africa that were not available there

6. City-State of Kilwa • Merchants traded goods from inland Africa for foreign goods • Contact between Africans and Arabs in Kilwa and other coastal cities led to a new culture and language • Swahili is a mixture of Bantu and Arabic and was spoken all over the east coast • Most people here converted to Islam • In the 1500’s Kilwa was raided by the Portugues, and they took over the trade routes. Even still Swahili culture remained • It is now the official language of Kenya and Tanzania

7. Great Zimbabwe • Most of the gold traded at Kilwa was mined in and inland area to the south between the Zambezi and Limpop Rivers • This region was controlled by Great Zimbabwe • Hitorians believe that it was founded in 1000 • Most people there were poor farmers, then herders, then for a lucky few trade made them rich • These powerful and rich people lived among large stone structures • The city reached its peak around 1400 • By 1500 the city fell • Ruins of this city still stand and it is a source of pride for present day Zimbabwe

8. Questions??? • What change did King Ezana of Aksum make in 300 A.D.? • He became a Christian and made Christianity the official religion of the Kingdom • What connection was there between the Great Zimbawe and Kilwa? • Gold traded at Kilwa was mined in Great Zimbabwe