Kilwa Sultanate

Kilwa Sultanate was a state in Swahili Coast and East Africa (Central and Southern Africa) that lasted from c. 957 to 1513 CE, about 556 years. Its people spoke Bantu languages (Kongo, Shona, Zulu, Swahili, Luba, Ganda).

Traditionally founded by Ali ibn al-Hasan, a prince from Shiraz, Kilwa controlled the gold trade from Sofala and the Zimbabwe plateau in the 13th and 14th centuries. The Portuguese sacked it in 1505 and it never recovered.

See Kilwa Sultanate on the interactive timeline

Facts

Dates

c. 957 to 1513 CE

Duration

556 years

Type

State

Region

Swahili Coast and East Africa, Central and Southern Africa

Language family

Bantu

Capital

Kilwa Kisiwani

Events in Central and Southern Africa during its time

• 1331 Ibn Battuta visits Kilwa
• 1350 Great Enclosure built at Great Zimbabwe
• 1483 Diogo Cão reaches the Congo River
• 1491 Kongo's king is baptised
• 1498 Vasco da Gama on the Swahili coast
• 1505 Portuguese sack Kilwa and Mombasa

Neighbours in Central and Southern Africa

• Swahili city-states c. 800 to 1700 CE
• Kingdom of Kongo c. 1390 to 1914 CE
• Kingdom of Zimbabwe c. 1220 to 1450 CE
• Kingdom of Buganda c. 1300 to 1966 CE
• Bunyoro-Kitara c. 1400 to 1899 CE
• Portuguese Mozambique 1505 to 1975 CE
• Mutapa Empire c. 1430 to 1760 CE
• Kingdom of Butua c. 1450 to 1683 CE
• Kingdom of Ndongo c. 1500 to 1671 CE
• Kingdom of Mapungubwe c. 1075 to 1220 CE

Elsewhere in the world at the same time

• Republic of Venice c. 697 to 1797 CE, Europe
• Byzantine Empire 395 to 1453 CE, Europe
• Byzantine Empire 395 to 1453 CE, Middle East
• Ghana Empire (Wagadu) c. 300 to 1200 CE, North and West Africa
• Holy Roman Empire 962 to 1806 CE, Europe
• Srivijaya c. 650 to 1377 CE, Southeast Asia
• Ethiopian Empire (Solomonic dynasty) 1270 to 1974 CE, North and West Africa
• Khmer Empire 802 to 1431 CE, Southeast Asia
• Ottoman Empire 1299 to 1922 CE, Europe
• Ottoman Empire 1299 to 1922 CE, Middle East

Questions