On a small island off the coast of what is now Tanzania, the city-state of Kilwa grew from the 12th and 13th centuries into the richest of the Swahili ports of East Africa, controlling the gold trade from the Zimbabwe plateau via Sofala to Arabia, India and China. Its sultans, of the Mahdali dynasty, issued coins and built the Great Mosque and the palace of Husuni Kubwa, with an octagonal bath. The traveller Ibn Battuta, who visited in 1331, called it one of the most beautiful and well-constructed towns in the world. Chinese porcelain, Persian glass and Indian beads have been found there. The Portuguese sacked it in 1505.
Before and after
- from 12th century to 19th centuryFounding of Hanseatic League
- c. 1200Construction of Rouen Cathedral
- 1200Birth of Albertus Magnus
- 12th centuryConstruction of Maiden Tower
- c. 1200sKilwa becomes a great Swahili trading city
- c. 1200sThe rock-hewn churches of Lalibela are carved
- 23 April 1200Death of Zhu Xi
- c. 1201Origins of Riga
- 13th centuryConstruction of Roskilde Cathedral
More in Civilizations & archaeology
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- from 29 July 1299 to 17 November 1922Ottoman Empire
- 1373Construction of Leaning Tower of Pisa
The era
This moment belongs to the Medieval world (500 CE to 1500 CE), kingdoms, faiths and trade routes. You can also browse everything in the 12th century.