SCTS+Region



Well, let's start with learning where the SCTS (Swahili Coastal Trading States) was located. It was located on the East coast of Africa where now [|Tanzania], [|Kenya], [|Mozambique] and [|Somalia] are. This is probably why it is called coastal. The trading comes from the trade that was with South East Asia, Arabian Peninsula and mainland Africa. Now you know where SCTS was located and why it's called 'coastal trading.' Now we can start with the landform, climate and what was traded. There are plains along the coast which created easy trading between the different states. The climate was not that much different than it is today- tropical climate with a monsoon season that blows North East from Dec. to Feb. and a second monsoon season that blows South West from May to Oct. The wind was what that made it so easy for the South East Asian traders to arrive to trade. The Chinese brought Chinese porcelain to trade for gold, sandal wood and tropical fruits. Later, when the Portuguese arrived on the Swahili Coast, slaves where also a big part of trade.
 * Getting to know the region of the Swahili Coastal Trading States:**

Because of the traders who came from so many places, there was a big mix in culture. A big portion of the country was though Islam. Other cultures that where there were Indian, Bantu and Chinese. The Portuguese later brought some Christianity into the picture too. Slavery was also something that was common throughout the country. They helped to build houses and with agriculture. Agriculture was also something big that we have to squeeze in somewhere and maybe this could be a good time. For agriculture they grew rice, coconuts, bananas, mangos, [|cloves] (checkout the noun), [|sorghums], and [|tamarinds]. The political system was a fair system were the elder people made the decisions and men and women where equally worth. Language was also something that was a mix of many. All of the following language were spoken there Bantu, Arab, Kiswahili and probably some Portuguese. Swahili even has a meaning in Arab and means "the coast".
 * Culture**

Picture Source: http://www.historylink101.com/1/africa/swahili_empire_map.jpg Click here to return to the main page.