Describe the rise of the Swahili city-states. (1 point)
1. The Swahili city-states were a loose collection of independent cities and their lands that used shared language and roads to interior Africa to become major trading powers.
2. The Swahili city-states were a loosely organized kingdom that started as independent cities that grew to become a major trading power.
3. The Swahili city-states were a loose collection of independent cities that leveraged a shared language and connection with the interior of Africa to organize as a trading empire.
4. The Swahili city-states were a loose collection of independent cities that leveraged a shared language and connection with the interior of Africa to become major military powers.
3. The Swahili city-states were a loose collection of independent cities that leveraged a shared language and connection with the interior of Africa to organize as a trading empire.
Option 3 is the correct answer.
The Swahili city-states were a loose collection of independent cities that leveraged a shared language and connection with the interior of Africa to organize as a trading empire.
The correct answer is 3. The Swahili city-states were a loose collection of independent cities that leveraged a shared language and connection with the interior of Africa to organize as a trading empire.
To explain how to get this answer, you would need to understand the historical context and development of the Swahili city-states. Here is the explanation:
The rise of the Swahili city-states can be attributed to a combination of internal and external factors. The Swahili coast, located along the eastern coast of Africa, had a favorable geographical position that facilitated trade with the Indian Ocean region, the Arabian Peninsula, and even distant lands such as Persia and China.
The Swahili city-states emerged as a result of trade contacts and interactions between Bantu-speaking African communities and Arab and Persian traders who arrived in the region from the 9th century onwards. These city-states were typically independent political entities, each centered around a primary city or port.
One of the key factors that contributed to the rise of the Swahili city-states was their shared language, known as Swahili. This Bantu-based language, enriched with Arabic and Persian vocabulary, became a lingua franca in the coastal region and facilitated communication and cooperation between the various city-states.
Additionally, the Swahili city-states benefitted from their strategic location along the East African trade routes. They established networks of trade connections both with the interior of Africa, where they obtained valuable goods such as gold, ivory, and slaves, and with foreign merchants from the Indian Ocean region and beyond. These trade networks enabled the city-states to amass wealth and become major commercial centers.
Moreover, the Swahili city-states developed a distinctive urban culture, characterized by the construction of stone architecture, bustling markets, and a vibrant cosmopolitan atmosphere. These cultural aspects, along with their economic prosperity, contributed to their growing influence and prestige in the region.
While military power did play a role in the Swahili city-states' rise, it was not the main factor. Instead, their success was primarily driven by their establishment of a thriving trade network, their shared language, and their strong connections with the interior of Africa.