What did Swahili import?

The Swahili coast largely exported raw products like timber, ivory, animal skins, spices, and gold. Finished products were imported from as far as east Asia such as silk and porcelain from China, spices and cotton from India, and black pepper from Sri Lanka.

What was imported to the Swahili city-states?

In return, Swahili elites bought imported glass, porcelain, silk, spices, and cloth. The seasonal monsoon winds that allowed trade between the Swahili coast and southern Arabia, the Persian Gulf, and southeast Asia also facilitated cultural exchange.

What are 3 things that were traded in the city-states of Swahili?

The city-states were independent sultanates, although they shared a common language (Swahili) and religion (Islam). They traded across the Indian Ocean for items, such as pottery, silks, and glassware.

Who did the Swahili trade with?

Swahili City-States Around the 8th century, the Swahili people began trading with the Arab, Persian, Indian, Chinese, and Southeast Asian peoples—a process known as the Indian Ocean trade.

What goods did foreign merchants supply to the Swahili?

Rock crystal (transparent quartz), ivory and gold were brought to the coast along inland trade routes (yellow). The Swahili obtained the goods at coastal ports and sailed north (blue), where Red Sea traders got the precious materials and carried them home (green).

Which items were traded in the markets of East Africa?

Other items that were commonly traded included ivory, kola nuts, cloth, slaves, metal goods, and beads. As trade developed across Africa, major cities developed as centers for trade.

What products did West Africa trade?

The West Africans exchanged their local products like gold, ivory, salt and cloth, for North African goods such as horses, books, swords and chain mail. This trade (called the trans-Saharan trade because it crossed the Sahara desert) also included slaves.

What was the Swahili Coast known for?

The Swahili Coast, an 1,800-mile stretch of Kenyan and Tanzanian coastline, has been the site of cultural and commercial exchanges between East Africa and the outside world – particularly the Middle East, Asia, and Europe – since at least the 2nd century A.D.

What goods did Mapungubwe farmers take to the Swahili Coast?

Answer and Explanation: Mapungubwe farmers took agricultural produce such as sorghum and cowpeas as well as goods like copper and ivory to the Swahili coast.

What are the main exports of East Africa today?

Exports to the EU from East African Community are mainly coffee, cut flowers, tea, tobacco, fish and vegetables. Imports from the EU into the region are dominated by machinery and mechanical appliances, equipment and parts, vehicles and pharmaceutical products.

What did the Arabs trade in East Africa?

Among the products exported from East Africa were gold, much of it transported overland a great distance, as well as iron tools, ivory, tortoiseshell, and rhinoceros horn. These went to ports in Arabia, India, southeast China, and the East Indies.

What does West Africa import?

West Africa’s imports from the EU consist of fuels, food products, machinery, and chemicals and pharmaceutical products. EU – West Africa trade in services is expanding, covering notably transportation and logistics, travel, and business services.

What was the main import of the West African kingdoms?

Merchants had to pay a one gold dinar tax on imports of salt, and two on exports of salt. Imports probably included products such as textiles, ornaments and other materials. Many of the hand-crafted leather goods found in old Morocco may also had their origins in the empire. The main center of trade was Koumbi Saleh.

What goods did the traders take to the coast What goods did they bring back to Mapungubwe?

What goods did they bring back with them? Answer: Farmers at Mapungubwe traded ivory with Swahili traders on the East Coast of Africa. They walked long distance, carrying elephant tusks and gold hidden in porcupine quills, to the coast. They were gold trackers and found their way by the stars .

Which trading items did the Mapungubwe people carry to the coast?

Trade goods included gold, glass beads, cotton cloth, Chinese ceramics, ivory, copper and hides.

What are Kenya’s main imports?

Kenya’s Top 10 Imports

• Mineral fuels including oil: US$3.5 billion (17.9% of total imports)
• Machinery including computers: $1.6 billion (8.1%)
• Vehicles: $1.4 billion (7%)
• Iron, steel: $1.3 billion (6.6%)
• Electrical machinery, equipment: $1.2 billion (6.1%)
• Animal/vegetable fats, oils, waxes: $1.1 billion (5.4%)

What products do Kenya import?

Kenya imports mostly machinery and transportation equipment, petroleum products, motor vehicles, iron and steel, resins and plastics. Kenya main import partners are India, China, UAE, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, United States and Japan.

Who was the first Arab trader to come to East Africa?

Around 1843, a caravan of Arab traders led by Ahmed Bin Ibrahim, widely believed to have been the first Arab or non-African visitor to Buganda Kingdom, the Arabs arrived in the court of Kabaka Ssuuna II.

What do Africa import most?

In 2018, Africa’s total imports were worth approximately 549 billion USD. The largest imported product (using the 4-digit category) was petroleum and mineral oils which was valued at approximately 60 billion USD – that is 11% of Africa’s total imports in that year.