| It was originally believed that Zanzibar first settled by Africans +/- 3000 to 4000 years ago. Many centuries later, inhabitants from Greece, Egypt, Persia, Arabia, India, China and Europe began to settle. Claudius Ptolemy, a famous Greek geographer, who lived in Egypt, made mention of Zanzibar in his work in about 150 AD. Zanzibar was a major trade route from Roman Empire to the Indo-Chinese ports. |
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By the 4 th century AD, Bantu people settled here, with Islam making it's way in, about 7 AD. These were Arab and Persian emigrants who were fleeing their own war torn countries. Through all the intermarriages, the language of Kiswahili was born. This forms the base of the present day language Swahili, which is the language spoken in Zanzibar.
This appeared to be a time of peace and prosperity, with Persians continuing to intermarry with Zanzibaris, and trade established with their homelands. Goods traded included gold, ebony, ivory, tortoise shells and slaves. In return they received porcelain, cloth and beads. This happy and prosperous time continued until the arrival of the Europeans in the late 15 th century. Zanzibar had been an independent Sultanate until the arrival of Vasco Da Gama in 1498.
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