Swahili Civilization
Where was the Swahili Civilization located?
On the east coast of Africa.
Where was Great Zimbabwe located relative to the coast?
Further inland in southeastern Africa.
Name three major West African empires
Mali, Ghana, and Songhai
What religion was Ethiopia known for maintaining?
Christianity
Why did Swahili city-states become wealthy?
Due to Indian Ocean trade—they imported goods from the African interior and sold them to merchants from Arabia, Persia, and South Asia.
How did Great Zimbabwe get wealthy despite being landlocked?
Through an inland trade network that connected to the Swahili coast, exporting gold, ivory, and agricultural goods.
What role did trade play in West African state-building?
Trade across the Trans-Saharan network brought wealth, power, and Islamic influence to West African empires.
What dynasty ruled Ethiopia from the 13th century to 1974?
The Solomonic Dynasty.
What were the main goods traded by the Swahili?
Gold, ivory, timber, and slaves.
What advantage did Great Zimbabwe have in agriculture?
It had a surplus due to skilled farming practices.
What was a major commodity traded from West Africa?
Gold.
Why did Ethiopia retain its Christian identity?
Its geographic isolation preserved its religious traditions despite the Islamic expansion elsewhere in Africa.
Why did Swahili elites convert to Islam?
To access the broader Islamic economic and trade networks (Dar-al-Islam).
What physical legacy did Great Zimbabwe leave behind?
Massive stone enclosures and ruins that indicate strong central authority and wealth.
How did Islam influence the West African empires?
It shaped education, law, and governance as rulers converted and built Islamic institutions.
What church claims apostolic origins in Ethiopia?
The Ethiopian Orthodox Church.
How did Swahili culture demonstrate cultural syncretism?
The Swahili language blended Bantu (local) and Arabic (foreign), and Islamic beliefs shaped local practices and governance.
What role did Great Zimbabwe play in the Indian Ocean Trade network?
It acted as an interior supplier of goods like gold and ivory that were passed on to Swahili coastal merchants for global trade.
How did the Hausa Kingdoms differ from the major empires?
They were independent city-states, not unified under one empire, and gained wealth as trade middlemen like the Swahili.
How did Ethiopia build economic power?
Through trade in the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean networks, exporting salt, coffee, metal, honey, and textiles.