Early Contacts with the Middle East and Far East

Goods taken from Africa included:

1. Ivory
2. Gold
3. Slaves
4. Tortoise shells
5. Rhinoceros horns
6. Animal skins
7. Copper
8. Iron
9. Ostrich feathers

Goods from Middle and Far East:

1. Trade activities. Traders wanted to trade and control commercial activities along the African coast as Africa's coastal environment attracted and favored trade activities of Indian Ocean in 7th and 8th centuries; there were regular trading between Africa, China, Indonesia, Persia, and Arab states.
2. Exploration of African coast. The visitors from Middle East and Far East were interested to know the accessibility of the coast and the availability of market in the coastal areas. They were also interested to assess the volume of commodities, which were in great demands such as gold, slave and animal skins.
3. The need to search new trading settlements. Early visitors come to Africa with the aim of establishing trading settlements along the East African Coast and the horn of Africa. During the 10th and 11th centuries several Muslims merchants of Arabs in Origin, began to penetrate the Awash valley towards the high land of Ethiopia.
4. The need to spread Islamic religion. Some visitors come to spread Islamic religion. The Islamic religion started to spread in western Asia from 7th century mainly through holy wars known as JIHADS which aimed at spreading the Islamic religion.

Economic Effects

1. Emergence of rich class. Since African people engaged in trade activities and acquired enough profit, a class of rich merchants emerged among them. In East Africa the class of rich people included chief Kivoi of Kamba and Nganyo of Giriama in Kenya, Mirambo and Nyungu ya mawe of Nyamwezi in Tanzania.
2. Exposed Africa towards economies. Africa was integrated in the world economy through supplying commodities, which were in great demands by the outside world.
3. Exploitation of Africa resources. The contact involved the exploitation of human resources by taking Africans away as slaves and some commodities such as Ivory, Gold and animals skins were taken away.
4. Decline of local industries. Loss of manpower, Example; slave trade in Africa decreased the manpower because traders captured the able-bodied people who were essential for production; the aged, weak and children were left behind while they could not manage to produce at large quantity.
5. Introduction of new crops. These crops were very useful to African because they provided foodstuffs as well as cash crops such as coconut, palms, rice, millet, wheat, cloves, sugarcane etc.
6. Introduction of money economy. In East Africa, coastal cities coins were minted and used as the medium of exchange therefore the use of currency replaced barter trade system.
7. Introduction of new arts and crafts. By 15th century, various items were produced in Africa and village communities were transforming from simple to complex societies. Many towns developed due to arts and crafts; the art of writing navigation and money handling was also introduced.

Social Effects

1. Emergence of Swahili language and culture.
2. Rise and growth of Islamic culture.
3. Spread of Islamic religion (Qur'an and Islamic laws).
4. Growth of towns and cities such as Mombasa, Kilwa, Pemba, Sofala and Mogadishu.
5. Emergence of mullatos due to intermarriage.
6. Rise of warfare and depopulation due to capturing of slaves.