East African Civilizations

The growth trading kingdoms in east Africa was matched by the city-states of Zimbabwe and Kilwa.  Goods moved from the interior of Africa to the markets of these cities on the coast.  Each city-state had its own ruler and government.

Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe
The capital had houses, a fort, and a temple.
The fort was on a hill protected by a wall.
The temple and the houses of the chief and his officials were inside the wall.

Language
People speak Bantu.

Government
The chief was a god-king.
People approached him by crawling on their stomach.
When he grew old he was expected to take poison.
A younger man would become chief.

Trade
Zimbabwe traded gold, coper, and ivory.
These goods went to Arabia, Persia, India, and China.

Buildings
They built towns using stones that fit together without using mortar.

Kilwa
A culture known as Swahili developed in Kilwa.  it is a mixture of Arabic and African cultures.  The Swahili language is a combination of Bantu and Arabic.

Trade
Merchants sailed across the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean.
They collected taxes from traders of other countries.
Many Arab traders had settled here.

Clothes
Dressed in fime cotton and silk.

Houses
Four story houses furnished with vases and wall hangings from India and China.