People / group

Swahili

Also known as Swahili merchants

The Swahili are a people of the East African coast, whose culture developed through interaction between Bantu-speaking Africans and Arab and Persian traders. Swahili merchants traded gold, ivory and other goods. The Mutapa Empire and Rozvi Empire profiles describe their role in trade with the interior.

Mentioned in 13 profiles

Mutapa EmpireSocioeconomy, ImpactMombasaFoundation, Socioeconomy, Military, Governance, Impact, Decline, SummaryKingdom of BugandaSocioeconomy, ImpactKingdom of RwandaSocioeconomyKingdom of AnkoleMilitarySultanate of ZanzibarFoundation, Socioeconomy, ImpactTanzaniaImpact, SummaryArabicChangeIslamSpread, LegacyLatinLegacyKilwa SultanateFoundation, Impact, SummaryKingdom of ZimbabweImpactKingdom of BurundiSocioeconomy

Mentioned in 32 state histories

Kingdom of MapungubweBarawaMombasaMalindiLamuPate SultanateKingdom of ButuaKingdom of MaraviSultanate of AngocheKingdom of UteveAntemoro KingdomSultanate of Mayotteand 20 more

See also

Cite this entry
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). Swahili. In The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/swahili
MLA
“Swahili.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/swahili. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “Swahili.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/swahili.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Swahili’, The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/swahili (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random entry ↻