The Rise and Fall of Swahili StatesThe Swahili civilization was a fascinating and complex system_a group of advanced cultures with large economic networks, international maritime trade, and urban sophistication. This book documents the growth of Swahili civilization on the eastern coast of Africa, from 100 B.C. to the time of European colonialism in the sixteenth century. Using archaeological, anthropological, and historical information, Chapurukha M. Kusimba describes the origins of this unique and powerful culture, including its Islamic components, architecture, language, and trading systems. Incorporating the results of his own surveys and excavations, Kusimba provides us with a remarkable African-derived study of the rise and collapse of societies on the Swahili Coast. |
Contents
List of Figures Maps and Tables | 7 |
Preface | 13 |
The Place of the Swahili Coast in the World | 19 |
Copyright | |
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appear Arab Archaeology architecture areas authority Bantu beads became building built centers century Chittick cities civilization Coastal colonial communities complex continued coral cultural developed diverse domestic earlier early East African eastern economic elite ethnic evidence example exchange farmers farming fishing foragers foreign gold groups hinterland Horton houses ideas important increased Indian Ocean indigenous inhabitants interest interior iron Islam Island ivory Kenya Kilwa kind King Kirkman Kusimba Lamu land language later lived markets material merchants Mijikenda Mombasa mosques natural needed networks noted origins past pastoralists Pate period Persian political population Portuguese pottery Press production record region remains result River role rural settlements Shanga slaves social society southern stone structures Studies suggests Swahili Coast Tana tion towns trade traditional University urban villages walls wares wealth