History and Government Form 1 Notes : CHAPTER 6. CONTACTS BETWEEN EAST AFRICA AND THE OUTSIDE WORLD UP TO THE 19TH CENTURY.

CHAPTER 6. CONTACTS BETWEEN EAST AFRICA AND THE OUTSIDE WORLD UP TO THE 19^TH CENTURY.

The early visitors to the Kenya Coast before the 15^th century were Egyptians, Greeks, Persians, Romans, Phoenicians, Indians, Chinese, and Arabs. The main reason for their visits was to trade with the people of the East African coast.

The commodities traders obtained from the interior of East Africa and exported to the outside world (e.g., from present-day Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania) included ivory, rhinoceros horns, leopard skins and skins from many other animals, ostrich feathers, copper, slaves, tortoise shells, gold, and ambergris.

The commodities the people of East Africa obtained from the outside world (e.g., from India, China, Arabia, Egypt) included spices, cowrie shells, drugs, swords/daggers, salt, porcelain cups and bowls, glassware, rugs and carpets, beads, cloth, sugar, and mats.

The Indian Ocean Trade up to 1500 AD

The evidence which may clarify that early visitors reached the Kenya coast

Many remains of Greek and Chinese coins have been found along the East African coast, especially in towns such as Malindi, Mombasa, Lamu, Gedi, and Jumba la Mtwana, which declined. These have been collected, preserved, and displayed in the Fort Jesus museum. There are also fragments of Chinese pottery, including broken Chinese cups, jars, and bowls made of porcelain.

Archaeological findings along the coast reveal that foreigners visited towns and traded with the people there. Evidence includes remains of items excavated. Some written documents mention the coast of East Africa, for instance, the Periplus of the Erythrean Sea and Geography written by Ptolemy.

The Arabs have lived along the East African coast for a long period. This is clear and undoubted evidence that early visitors came to the East African coast up to the 19^th century.

Reasons why trade developed between the East African coast and Asia before the 19^th century

Trade developed between the East African coast and Asia before the 19^th century due to the availability of goods that traders from both sides needed. Goods from East Africa were highly demanded in Asia, while there was a high demand for Asian goods in East Africa. The monsoon winds enabled traders to travel by the use of dhows.

There was relative political stability of the Kenyan coastal city-states because rulers such as Seyyid Said ensured that peace prevailed and that traders were secure. The East African coast was easily accessible by sea due to the existence of natural harbours such as the old Mombasa harbour and Malindi harbour where dhows could anchor.

Trade also developed due to the establishment of strong trade links between East Africa and Asia.

How the trade between the East African coast and the outside world was organised before 1500

The coastal Arab and Swahili traders obtained commodities from interior communities such as the Akamba, Baganda, Yao, and the Nyamwezi. The trading commodities included copper, gold, ivory, leopard skins, rhino horns, tortoise shells, and ostrich feathers.

The coastal Arab and Swahili traders exchanged these commodities by giving African traders items such as beads, sugar, salt, cloth, glassware, daggers, cowrie shells, and porcelain cups. The form of exchange was barter.

The Arab traders either transported the items across the Indian Ocean themselves or sold them to other Asian traders who were mainly Chinese, Greeks, Indians, or fellow Arabs. These traders used dhows which sailed to East Africa between November and April and to Asia between June and October.

The East Coast Traders

Why some Arabs migrated from Arabia to the East African coast

Some Arabs came to trade with the people along the East African coast. Others came to trade with the people of East Africa.

Some Arabs came as refugees escaping political and religious persecutions in Arabia after the death of Prophet Mohammed. Some came to the East African coast to establish settlements. Others came for adventure, and a few came to explore the East African coast.

The impact of the Indian Ocean trade on the people of East Africa

East African coastal towns

The Indian Ocean trade took place for a long period along the East African coast. As a result, towns were established along the East African coast such as Malindi, Mombasa, Lamu, Kilifi, and Gedi.

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There was intermarriage between foreigners such as Arabs and different African communities at the coast. This was promoted by socialisation in the towns. The East African people adopted Asiatic architecture; for example, they began building rectangular stone houses.

The Indian Ocean trade led to the spread of Islamic culture along the Kenyan coast. For instance, coastal people began wearing Arabic dress, building mosques, and converting to Islam. It led to the spread of the Kiswahili language. By 1500, it had become the main language of the coast. New crops were introduced, for instance, rice and coconut. It stimulated commercial activities between different communities in the interior, for example, trade between the Akamba and the Mijikenda, and trade between the Baganda in Uganda and the Nyamwezi in Tanzania.

The Arabs were able to control the East African coast and use Islamic law in their administration. The trade led to the emergence of a class of prosperous traders who controlled trade.

The Indian Ocean trade also led to the development of the East African slave trade. African inhabitants acquired foreign goods such as cloth, beads, and glassware from traders. Trade routes developed, e.g., the one from Mombasa to Ukambani, and one from Bagamoyo to Nyamwezi land and going north to Buganda. Many African people suffered due to the slave trade, and many others died.

The Indian Ocean trade stimulated European interest in the East African coast, which eventually led to the colonisation of East Africa. The East African coast became known to the outside world and also strengthened ties with India and the Far East.

How slave traders were obtaining slaves in East Africa during the slave trade

Slave merchants exchanged slaves for goods like cloth, beads, and guns.

They kidnapped free men and sold them as slaves. Slave traders conducted raids to capture slaves. This was very common with the Yao and the Nyamwezi communities in Tanzania.

Slave traders also organised intercommunity wars, and the defeated community had war captives sold as slaves. Criminals were sold by rulers as punishment for lawbreakers. Children were enticed with sweets and then captured. After being captured, they were sent to the slave market in Zanzibar for sale.

The slave market in Zanzibar

The East African slave trade was mainly rampant in the 19^th century and left the region very different from the way it was before. Slave raids resulted in the death of many innocent Africans. A lot of property was destroyed by being burnt during slave raids.

There was much suffering by children and women whose families were broken. Slave trade settlements were established at Bagamoyo and Frere Town near Mombasa.

Some communities which depended on the slave trade expanded. Such communities were the Nyamwezi and the Yao in Tanzania. It encouraged the development of trade merchants such as Tippu Tip, Msiri, and Kivoi. East Africa was depopulated as a result of the slave trade. It opened the interior for trade with other items such as ivory in exchange for beads, cloth, and firearms.

Slave trade contributed to the spread of Islam and Kiswahili language in the interior. African traditional industries such as pottery, weaving, and iron smelting were abandoned due to constant raids. African communities who were raided and had their families broken were forced to flee, which affected African cultures.

Reasons why the Portuguese came to the East African coast

The Portuguese came to conquer the Arabs who had attacked and conquered the Christians in Spain and Portugal, and they also wished to spread Christianity along the East African coast. They wanted to look for a legendary Prester John, who was believed to be living in Ethiopia and who could assist them to conquer Arabs.

The Portuguese wanted to trade with the coastal traders. Vasco da Gama landed at Malindi to be provided with a guide who would show him the way to India. Others like Alfonzo de Almeida came to conquer the coastal towns and acquire the wealth of those prosperous towns. Some came to settle along the coast in towns such as Malindi and Mombasa. The Portuguese, for example, built and settled in Fort Jesus in Mombasa.

Why the Portuguese developed interest in the East African coast after 1550

East Africa provided bases for Portuguese ships and troops.
To levy tributes (taxes) from the wealthy coastal merchants.
To look for ways and means of controlling the Indian Ocean trade.
To capture the Sofala gold trade.
To take control of the East coast in order to use it as a strategic base as they controlled all trade to Europe.
To prevent the Turks and the Egyptians from acquiring support from the East coast in case of war with the Portuguese.
The East coast of Africa provided natural harbours where Portuguese ships could easily anchor before proceeding to India.
The climate of the East coast of Africa was conducive to the Portuguese men, and they could also obtain fresh water and food before they continued their journey to India.

The Portuguese and Arab sea routes

The Portuguese conquest of the East Coast of Africa up to 1510

Fransisco d’Almeida

Alvares Pedro Cabral led an expedition in 1500 to capture Sofala but failed. In 1502 Vasco da Gama led an expedition which resulted in the conquest of Kilwa.

In 1503, Ruy Lourenco Ravasco led an expedition against Zanzibar which he conquered and forced to pay tribute. In 1505, Fransisco de Almeida led an expedition of 20 ships and 1500 soldiers which conquered Kilwa, Mombasa, and Sofala. Brava attempted to resist but it was routed and then burnt.

In 1506, Pate and the East coast were now under the control of the Portuguese.

It is important to note that – The Portuguese, after conquering the Arabs, began establishing their rule which lasted for 200 years. The Portuguese headquarters along the East Coast were Mozambique and Mombasa. Each of these headquarters was under a Captain who was answerable to the Viceroy stationed at Goa in India. The duties of the captain were:

To collect tribute from the local rulers.
To suppress resistance or rebellion.
To supervise the ruling families in the city-states.
To impose custom duties on imports and exports.
To represent the Viceroy on the East coast of Africa.

Reasons why the Portuguese were able to conquer the Kenya coast easily

The Portuguese took a short time to conquer the East Coast of Africa after Vasco da Gama’s visit on his way to India. The reasons for their success were as follows:

The city-states which resisted were severely punished to discourage others from resisting.
The Wazimba, who were cannibals (they ate people), assisted the Portuguese to conquer the Arabs so that they could feed on their flesh.
The Portuguese frequently organised and carried out surprise attacks on Arab settlements.
The ruler (Sultan) of Malindi collaborated with the Portuguese and helped them to fight fellow city-states.
The coastal city-states were disunited.
The Portuguese were better militarily trained and equipped. They used very powerful guns and cannons.
The natural harbours in Mombasa and Malindi provided the Portuguese with bases for their ships and troops.
The Portuguese constantly acquired reinforcements from their mother country or from their base in Goa in India.
The Portuguese troops fought with determination with the aim of establishing a Portuguese empire in the East.
The Portuguese used strong and superior ships compared with the Arab dhows which were driven by wind.

Why the Portuguese rule and power along the coast declined

The rivals of the Portuguese during the period they controlled the East African coast were the Egyptians, the British, Turks, Persians, Oman Arabs, and the East African Coastal Arabs.

There was intense rivalry from the British and the Dutch. The coast was invaded by Muslim nations such as Oman and Turkey. The city-states organised constant rebellions against the Portuguese. The Portuguese administrators were corrupt and inefficient.

The people of Malindi refused to support the Portuguese because the Portuguese authority had mistreated them. The Portuguese never at any time united with coastal inhabitants to develop the coast. Instead, the inhabitants were always suspicious of the Portuguese who also never trusted them. Revenue from gold declined. The Portuguese were also affected by the decline of the Indian Ocean trade because it was the main source of income for maintaining their empire.

Portugal was weakened by its union with Spain. It was annexed by Spain between 1590 and 1640. Portugal was also too small to provide enough soldiers and administrators. For this reason, Portuguese soldiers were defeated and driven out of Fort Jesus by the Oman Arabs after a siege lasting 33 months.

Fort Jesus

The impact of the Portuguese administration on the coast of East Africa

Positive impact

The Portuguese introduced new crops such as sweet potatoes, groundnuts, cassava, maize, pawpaws, and pineapples.
The Portuguese built Fort Jesus, which is today used as a museum.
The Portuguese introduced the use of bird droppings called “Guano” as a way of increasing soil fertility. They also introduced crop rotation.
Portuguese words contributed to the Kiswahili language, e.g., the word ‘mvinyo’.
Portuguese architecture was borrowed by coastal inhabitants.
The Portuguese directly linked the Kenya coast with India.
The Portuguese Christians tried to introduce Christianity to the coastal dwellers, although they failed totally.

Negative impact

Frequent attacks and wars between the Portuguese and the coastal inhabitants led to loss of lives of many people.
Property was destroyed as the Portuguese burnt the coastal towns to punish rebels.
Traditional industries declined along the coast.
Coastal towns declined. Some, for instance Gedi and Jumba La Mtwana, never recovered even after the Portuguese power declined.
The Portuguese affected the culture of the coastal people.
The economic development of the coast was retarded due to destruction of towns, burning of crops, and rooting by the Portuguese.
Slave trade was intensified as a result of acquisition of firearms.
The coastal people suffered a lot due to frequent attacks by the Portuguese.
Hatred developed between the coastal people and the Portuguese and also between the coastal city-states.
The Portuguese introduced dangerous weapons, e.g., guns.

How Seyyid Said’s rule encouraged development of plantation agriculture on the East African coast

Seyyid Said made Zanzibar his capital in 1840, and from there he controlled the East coast towns and the Indian Ocean trade, which was an international trade. Having established political control over coastal city-states, Seyyid Said appointed governors (Liwalis) to control the city-states on his behalf.

The Oman Arabs settled along the East African coast and began developing grain plantations around Malindi and Takaungu and also coconut plantations around Mombasa. Slave labour was used to work in the plantations. This practice therefore became the major cause of increased slave trade in East Africa in the 19^th century.

Seyyid Said encouraged more and more wealthy Arab and Swahili settlers to acquire land around Mombasa, Malindi, and Lamu and establish more plantations. The food produced was sold in Oman as well as in the islands of Zanzibar and Pemba, which were mainly growing cloves.

When Seyyid Said signed the Hammerton Treaty in 1845 and forbade the export of slaves from Africa, the supply of slave labour on the coastal plantations increased. This was followed by the production of more rice, maize, millet, and beans than ever before, such that by 1870 the Kenyan coast had become the granary of East Africa.

The factors which enabled Seyyid Said to establish the Oman rule on the East African coast

The Portuguese were driven out of Fort Jesus by the Oman Arabs who then replaced them as the new rulers. Seyyid Said appointed governors (Liwalis) to help him administer Oman from 1806 to 1840. In 1840, Seyyid Said transferred his capital to Zanzibar and was able to rule the coast from close quarters.

Seyyid Said overcame the rebellious Mazrui governors before he transferred to establish his capital in Zanzibar.

Note that – Seyyid Said chose Zanzibar to be his capital because:

It had a good climate for crop growing.
It had a deep natural harbour where ships could anchor.
Zanzibar had fresh water.
It had fertile soils for cultivation.
It was close to the coast where he ruled and strategically placed.
Zanzibar was convenient for trade with the mainland.
Zanzibar had supported the efforts of Seyyid Said to control the East African coast.

The impact of the Oman rule on the East African coast

Establishment of the Oman rule led to the establishment of clove plantations in Zanzibar and Pemba.
It led to the development of slave trade at the coast because slaves were used as labourers in the plantations.
It led to the establishment of a commercial empire along the East African coast.
It stimulated the development of long-distance trade among the Yao, Akamba, and the Nyamwezi of Tanzania.
It led to the growth and expansion of towns like Kilwa, Pemba, and Zanzibar.
The Swahili culture was intensified along the coast.
It led to the establishment of a strong political empire under the rule of the Sultans at the coast.
The Indian traders (Banyans) introduced the Rupee as the currency for use along the East African coast.
The slave trade, which was intensified by the Oman rulers, broke down families in most of the areas where raids took place. There was also suffering and loss of property due to burning of houses during raids.

The development of the long-distance trade in East Africa

Trade between the Kenya Coast and other outside countries began very early. It was in the 19^th century that this trade expanded rapidly, especially during the rule of Seyyid Said. This international trade led to the development of long-distance trade.

The long-distance trade involved trade between the East Coast of Africa and the interior. It developed due to the demand for slaves in Arabia and the demand for ivory in Europe. The people involved in this trade were mainly the Akamba and the Mijikenda of Kenya, the Nyamwezi and Yao of Tanzania, the coastal Arabs and the Swahilis, and the Baganda of Uganda.

The main commodities of trade obtained in the interior of East Africa in the 19^th century were ivory and slaves, which were in great demand at the coast. These were exchanged with cloth, beads, glassware utensils, ironware, and carpets. The Arab and Swahili traders were at first waiting for trade goods to be supplied to them at the coast, but later in the 1860s, they started penetrating into the interior. They took control of the long-distance trade from Africans such as the Akamba and the Nyamwezi and travelled into the interior as far as Buganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The traders moved in caravans for security reasons. The goods they obtained were shipped across the Indian Ocean and taken to Asian countries such as India, Persia, Arabia, and China.

The factors which facilitated the Akamba long-distance trade

The Akamba began the long-distance trade due to the existence of prominent personalities like Kivoi who attracted a large following of men who regarded him as their leader and accompanied him during trading expeditions. The Akamba’s geographical position gave them the advantage of being the middlemen between the coastal traders and the communities in central Kenya who provided ivory.

Many parts of Kambaland were not suitable for agriculture because of being hilly, rocky, sandy, and also because of receiving inadequate rain and having very poor soils. The second quarter of the 19^th century was associated with drought and famine in Ukambani, which forced the Akamba to engage themselves in long-distance trade.

The Akamba were experienced traders, having acquired trading skills in local and intercommunity trade. There was no competition because the coastal traders did not venture into the interior for trade because they feared the Maasai warriors. The Akamba gave false stories about the fierceness of the people of the interior. This scared away foreigners from entering the interior.

Organisation of the Akamba long-distance trade

The Akamba were organised into trading and hunting groups. The hunters killed animals such as elephants to obtain ivory. They also obtained hides and skins. The traders organised themselves into caravans consisting of about 700 people who included slaves, porters, and the traders themselves.

The form of trade was at first barter system before the introduction of currency. Traders moved into the interior as far as Lake Baringo and Samburu. There were resting places between Ukambani and the Coast such as Mariakani. At first, the Akamba acted as middlemen between the coastal traders and the people of the interior. Later, the coastal traders such as Arabs and Swahilis began penetrating into the interior.

The Akamba trade links

Factors which contributed to the decline of the Akamba long-distance trade

There was competition from Arab and Swahili traders who affected the middleman position of the Akamba. The Kikuyu and the Embu refused to trade with the Akamba because the Akamba raided them to obtain slaves. The Akamba were raided by the Oromo and the Maasai; therefore, the Kamba trading activity was no longer secure. The interior communities began taking their trade goods to the coast, thus ignoring the Kamba middlemen position.

The European occupation and the abolition of slave trade undermined Akamba long-distance trade even further. After the slave trade was abolished, it became difficult to transport ivory to the coast. Also, the number of elephants had become drastically reduced, making this trade uneconomical.

The stories the Akamba gave to scare foreign traders from going to the interior were proved untrue. As a result, the Akamba trade ceased to thrive.

The impact of the Akamba long-distance trade on the people of Kenya

The Akamba long-distance trade made foreign traders aware of the wealth of Kenya. The first to come and spy about this wealth were traders and explorers. This later contributed to colonisation by the Europeans.
The people of the interior developed a taste for imported foreign goods such as cloth, beads, glassware, and ironware. They started exchanging ivory, hides, and skins with the coastal traders to obtain them.
It stimulated local and intercommunity trade.
The Akamba long-distance trade contributed to the expansion of the slave trade because slaves were used to carry ivory.
The long-distance trade gave rise to prosperous and well-known merchants like Kivoi and Ngonyo.
The Wanga kingdom was strengthened due to acquisition of wealth and firearms.
The interior was opened for trade with the coastal Arabs and Swahilis.
The traders developed good communication between the interior and the coast.
It enabled Islam and Swahili culture to penetrate into the interior through Kamba converts.
New crops such as mangoes, rice, and bananas were introduced into the interior of Kenya.
Akamba borrowed aspects of other cultures from the trading partners.

Development of international trade

It was the efforts of Seyyid Said in Zanzibar which enabled East Africa to get involved in international trade in the 19^th century. Foreign traders from the USA, Britain, and France signed commercial treaties with Seyyid Said which enabled them to open consulates in Zanzibar.

Seyyid Said also invited the Indian Banyans and allowed them to settle and participate in trade with the other foreign traders.

The international trade developed due to the following factors:

Seyyid Said created commercial relations with foreign countries after signing treaties with Britain, France, Germany, and the USA.
The traders were provided with funds to boost trade. The Indian Banyans loaned traders along the East African Coast.
Seyyid Said, who was a powerful ruler, maintained peace and political stability along the East African coast, therefore creating a conducive atmosphere for trade.
The Industrial Revolution which occurred in Britain in the 19^th century brought about a high demand for raw materials from East Africa.
The people of East Africa demanded foreign manufactured goods, therefore creating a ready market for foreign goods.
The people of the East African coast were experienced in trade because they had traded with the people of Asia many years before the 19^th century.
The East African coast, with its natural harbours and good climate, attracted many foreign traders.
There existed a class of wealthy traders who promoted trade.

Impact of international trade on the people of East Africa

The East African slave trade was boosted through the introduction of ammunitions such as guns.
The foreign traders paved the way for colonisers who took control of East Africa.
The traders opened up the interior of East Africa, which encouraged missionaries to penetrate into the interior to stop slave trade and spread Christianity.
The people of East Africa developed a taste for imported goods such as guns, cloth, and ironware.
The trade led to the growth of urban centres.
The East African coast was exposed to the outside world.

The Spread of Christianity in East Africa

The Portuguese were the first foreigners to attempt to spread Christianity in East Africa but totally failed. The Christian missionaries of the 19^th century from Germany and Britain succeeded in spreading Christianity and winning converts in East Africa. They established mission schools, hospitals, and churches which contributed greatly to the spread of Christianity.

The Christian missionary societies which established mission stations in Africa were the Church Missionary Society (CMS), the London Missionary Society (LMS), the Baptist Mission Society, the Bremen Society, the Basel Missionary Society, the Scottish Missionary Society, the Church of England Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society, and the Universities Mission to Central Africa.

The spread of Missionary activity in East Africa

Why the Christian Missionaries came to East Africa

The Christian missionaries came to East Africa in order to:

Carry out exploration activities.
Spread Christianity.
Civilize Africans.
Abolish slave trade and slavery.
Spread western education and culture.
Introduce legitimate trade in areas where slave trade was abolished.
Introduce better health services.

The activities of the Christian Missionaries in East Africa in the 19th century

The Christian missionaries who came to East Africa in the 19^th century were engaged in training freed slaves on how to contribute to the spread of Christianity, spreading Christianity, and converting the local people to be followers of Christianity.

They were also engaged in establishing churches, schools, hospitals, and dispensaries. They translated the Bible into African languages and paved the way for European colonisation.

The missionaries also helped to eradicate slave trade and slavery by advocating the evils associated with this inhuman trade to the British Government.

The factors which contributed to the spread of Christianity in East Africa in the 19th century

The Christian missionaries were given support by Seyyid Said. He gave them letters which introduced them to the governors of the coastal towns.
Some African traditional rulers such as Nabongo Mumia of Wanga in western Kenya, Kabaka Mutesa of Buganda, and Mirambo of Nyamwezi were friendly to the missionaries.
The establishment of many mission schools and churches helped in winning more converts.
Missionaries studied African languages and made it easy for them to translate the Bible into local languages; e.g., Kikamba, Kirabai, and Kiswahili.
Freed slaves from ‘FRERE TOWN’ who served as catechists helped much in the spread of Christianity.
Development of transport and communication, e.g., railways and roads, made it easier for the missionaries to venture deep into the interior of Kenya.
When Quinine was discovered, it enabled the missionaries to venture into the interior without fear of malaria.
The peace which prevailed in East Africa during the colonial period encouraged the spread of Christianity. This peace was a result of abolition of slave trade and establishment of colonial rule which marked the end of intercommunity wars.

The problems which the missionaries in East Africa encountered before the attainment of independence

Language barrier was an obstacle to the spread of Christianity.
There were problems of transport and communication because even at the eve of independence very few areas were served by railway lines and roads.
1. Missionaries suffered from tropical diseases like malaria.
2. Missionaries lacked adequate capital to maintain and sustain them.
There was severe opposition from Islam, which had already spread along the East African coast.
The missionaries were attacked by hostile African communities such as the Nandi of Kenya.
Sometimes, due to lack of security, the property of the missionaries was stolen.
There was rivalry between different missionary groups which resulted in hatred and disunity.
Missionaries encountered shortages of essential human requirements like food and water.
African communities opposed missionaries who interfered with their culture and way of life.
1. They were attacked by slave traders.

The contributions of Christian Missionaries to the welfare of the people of East Africa

Missionaries established schools and taught Africans how to read and write. They provided modern medical services by establishing hospitals and dispensaries. Missionaries advocated for the abolition of slave trade and slavery and established freed slave settlements and used freed slaves to spread Christianity.

Missionaries spread Christianity and made many converts. They translated the Bible into African languages such as Kikamba, Kirabai, and Kiswahili. The missionaries also contributed greatly to the development of transport and communication by building roads to serve mission stations.

The Christian missionaries helped to eradicate some inhuman practices such as human sacrifice and tried to discourage witchcraft. They introduced new crops such as tea, coffee, cotton, and pyrethrum and new better methods of farming.

The results of the Christian missionary activities in East Africa

The missionaries translated the Bible into native languages such as Kiswahili, Kikamba, and Kirabai. They converted Africans to Christianity. Those converted abandoned traditional customs such as polygamy and human sacrifice.

The Christian missionaries introduced Western education and civilization. They also established medical services by establishing hospitals and dispensaries which improved the welfare of the Africans and reduced death rates.

The missionaries explored part of Kenya and reported their findings to their mother countries. This contributed to the colonization of Kenya and the rest of East African countries. The Christian missionaries also experimented with new crops such as coffee. They also introduced new methods of farming.

Transport and communication means were developed, especially those which served the mission centres. Such means were roads and telephone lines. They collected useful information concerning the customs and the institutions of African communities. For instance, Dr. Krapf studied and recorded the customs of the Mijikenda. This information is very useful for reconstructing history today.

Review Questions

Why did the early foreigners visit the East African coast before 1500 AD?
i) How was the trade between the East African coast and the outside world organised before 1900 AD?
ii) What factors contributed to the development of the above trade?
i) Identify the problems the Portuguese encountered along the East African coast.
ii) Show the ways the Portuguese tried to evade those problems.
a) Discuss the positive and negative impact of the Portuguese administration on the East African coast.
b) Give all the reasons for the decline of the coastal towns during the Portuguese era.
Explain the contribution of Seyyid Said in East Africa.
Describe the factors which facilitated the spread of Christianity in East Africa.