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From 1100 to 1500 Kilwa became a major tading city. They traded many products like jewelry, porcelain, spices, gold, and iron. Trade was mainly in gold and iron from Zimbabwe, ivory from Tanzania, and textiles, jewelry, porcelain, and spices from Asia.
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In 1200 Kilwa adopted the muslim religion.
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Kilwas controlled the trade from Sofala to the south in the mid 1200's.
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Architectural constructions, elaborations of the Great Mosque and the construction of the market complexes. Buildings like the Mosque incorperated arches. Homes of the wealthy were built of coral plaster which is a durable material that stays cool even in the hot sun. These houses were built several stories high.
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Kilwa declined when the Portuguese arrived. Portuguese, lead by Vasco da Gama, threatened to attack the city unless a tribute was paid. They decided that they wanted Kilwa's prosperity for themselves and took the island by force. The Portuguese built a large coastal fort called the Gereza
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Franscico de Almeido takes control of the island. He built the Portuguese fort on the water.
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An Arab mercenary and his troops liberated Kilwa from the Portuguese.
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under the rule of Omani rulers of Zanzibar.
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A Moroccan, Abu Abdullahi Ibn Batuta, went to Kilwa, and that is when it was discovered by the outside world.
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This is the suspected date of the earliest time people have inhabited Kilwa. These people were a tribe known as the Mtakata tribe.
