Question

To what degree did the arrival of the Portuguese impact the Swahili Coast in each of the following areas?

Politically
Socially
Economically

Answer 1

@Taylor<3sRin

Answer 2

All three are located on islands off the coast, where they were established around natural sheltered harbours. They were all flourishing towns by the 13th century, 300 years before the arrival of the Portuguese. At this time they were the centres of trade between the African interior and the countries of Arabia and the East. There is evidence that Kilwa Kisiwani had strong trade links with the gold-rich empire centred on Great Zimbabwe, and there were other well-established trading routes into the African interior from which ivory, gold, foodstuffs and slaves were exchanged for pottery, porcelain and other manufactured goods.

Following the arrival of the Portuguese in the 15th century, the economic and political life of the ancient Swahili settlements was severely disrupted, as the Portuguese sought to control trade and commerce in the area. Kilwa Kisiwani went into terminal decline and only the ruins of its opulent splendour and heritage now remain. Lamu Old Town is thought to be the oldest and best preserved Swahili settlement on the East African coast, located on a small island off the north coast of Kenya. There are no vehicles on the island and goods are still moved through the narrow twisted alleyways of the town by donkey. Many of its cultural and architectural treasures – ornate courtyard homes with elaborately carved Arabic doors - date from the period of Omani Arab control from 1698 to the mid 1800s, during a Golden Age after the Portuguese had been overthrown