Cultural Blending and the Swahili Coast

From approximately 800-1400 AD, a vast trade network stretched across the Indian Ocean, bringing together Arab, Indian, Persian, African, and Chinese merchants and traders. These different cultures interacted, exchanging goods and ideas over hundreds of years. Nowhere is this blending of cultures more apparent than the island of Zanzibar on the Swahili coast. From about 1300-1500, first the Omani (a Muslim empire), then the Portuguese, came to dominate the Swahili coast and the trade networks.

Above, a map illustrating the Indian Ocean Trade routes.

As you can see from the map above, monsoons played a large role in Indian Ocean trade. Traders used seafaring ships called dhows which could hold hundreds of tons of cargo – and these dhows had large triangular sails that allowed sailors to capture the monsoon winds and quickly cross the ocean.

Above, a small fishing dhow off the coast of Zanzibar.

The direction of monsoon winds changed with the season; winds blew from the Arabian Peninsula to India; from India to Southeast Asia; and from Southeast Asia to China, but only during certain times of the year. While merchants were waiting for the seasons and the winds to change, they stayed in city-states, often along the East African coast. This coast soon became known as the Swahili coast, and the mix of Africans, Arabs, Indians, and Asians that lived there were known as the Swahili – the “coast-dwellers.”

These city states became diaspora communities and the language that the merchants spoke, a mix of African Bantu language and Arabic, became known as Kiswahili. The Swahili people adopted local customs and traditions, and made these diaspora communities their homes away from home. Many of them even married women who lived along the coast and started families!

Above, a map of the Swahili coast, with the island of Zanzibar.

Now, let’s examine the food, clothing, and language of the Swahili coast for examples of this cultural blending. Click on the links below for more information about each topic. Be sure to answer all questions in complete sentences.

Food

Clothing

Kiswahili

A Mandala of Hindu Beliefs

Mandala means "circle" in Sanskrit. Mandalas are circular diagrams that originated in Hinduism to symbolize the cyclical nature of the universe. Hindus and Buddhists often use mandalas to focus themselves during meditation and increase spiritual awareness.

Mandalas can range from very simple to very complex. They can be made up of images or repeating patterns. Mandalas can be monotone or many colors.

Mandalas are often made to be temporary. Some of the most common mandalas are made of sand. Sand mandalas take hours, sometimes days to complete, and often take the work of many people.

The work of creating a mandala can be considered a form of meditation. When the mandala is finished, it is swept away, often ceremoniously. This sweeping away of the mandala represents the cyclical nature of life. Watch these Buddhist monks create a sand mandala using time-lapse video. 


In this post are some examples of mandalas. Today, we will begin creating our own mandalas, representing the ideas of Hinduism.

Hinduism: Your Questions Answered

Why is the cow sacred to Hindus?

Excellent question! In ancient India, cows played two main roles: as a source of food and energy for families, and as sacrificial animals. The cow has been associated with many Hindu gods and goddesses, most notably Krishna, who was a cowherd as a young man, and Shiva, who rides a bull. Cows were and are seen as members of the family; they provide milk, curd, dung (used as fuel), butter, and urine — all five of which are used in puja (worship). Gupta kings made cow-killing a crime, and today, the cow is still a protected animal in India.


Above, a picture of Krishna with his beloved cows.

What is Diwali?
Diwali is generally known as the Hindu festival of lights, one of the most celebrated Hindu holidays of the year. The fireworks and candy involved with Diwali last for five days; Diwali celebrates the victory of good over evil. Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity, is also celebrated, and Diwali gets its name from the lanterns that people hang in homes to invite the goddess in. Gifts are exchanged during Diwali, which is a joyous holiday for all.

Here’s a slideshow of pictures of Diwali Festivals from the London Telegraph.

What are some famous Hindus?There are many famous Hindus — some names you may recognize; some you may not. Here are some examples:

M. Night Shyamalan, film director
Amartya Sen, Nobel Prize-winning economist
JD Salinger, author
Aldous Huxley, author
Jhumpa Lahiri, author
Mohandas Ghandi
Mukesh Ambani, the fourth richest man in the world, who just moved into a 27 story home in Mumbai
Lakshmi Mittal, the fifth richest man in the world

"The Caste Buster"

For those of you who are interested in learning more about how the caste system plays out in modern India, here’s a look from the New York Times:

The Caste Buster