Kilwa Sultanate

State · 957–1513 CE · at its largest around 1300 CE

Swahili sultanate based on the island of Kilwa Kisiwani; at its height it controlled the gold trade from Sofala and much of the coast, until sacked by the Portuguese in 1505.

On its lands while it lasted

Swahili coast trade (c. 800–1500 CE): Monsoon winds carried dhows between the Swahili city-states of East Africa (such as Kilwa, Mombasa and Mogadishu), Arabia, the Persian Gulf and India, trading gold, ivory and slaves for cloth, beads and ceramics.