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Kilwa Kisiwani

Swahili, Tanzania

10th to 16th centuryEast AfricaAncient Africa
Kilwa Kisiwani

A Swahili island city state on the East African coast, grown rich on the trade of gold, ivory, and cloth across the Indian Ocean. Its coral stone palace and great mosque were the wonder of medieval travelers. Kilwa was one of the most powerful cities of the Swahili coast.