V. The Modern Period, 1789–1914 > G. Africa, 1795–1917 > 3. Regions > d. East Africa > 1. Swahili Coast and Hinterland > 1840–45
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  The Encyclopedia of World History.  2001.
 
 
1840–45
 
Ngoni invaders, rippling northward from wars in South Africa, reached southeastern Tanganyika in two main groups. The death of Ngoni leader Zwagendaba in 1848 led to a split; offshoots of these groups established new states, incorporating local populations, including Mshope and Njelu kingdoms. Ngoni immigration set off a chain reaction of war and conquest and raiding for cattle and slaves. Ngoni weapons and tactics were adopted by pastoralist Hehe, Sangu, and Bena peoples in the highlands northeast of Lake Malawi. These disturbances increased the slave trade and discouraged ivory traders from infiltrating this region.  1
 
1840–70
 
Sa’id encouraged the establishment of clove plantations in Zanzibar and Pemba, which by the 1860s had become the world's top producers of cloves. Cloves displaced other crops and gave rise to plantation slavery in the islands. By the 1860s, plantations of Zanzibar and Pemba were absorbing 10,000 slaves per year, while the Zanzibar slave market was handling 70,000 slaves per year for export. Sa'id also encouraged the settlement of Indians, who financed the new interior trade. About 5,000 Indians were settled in Zanzibar by 1860. European involvement in trade was also encouraged, but Europeans were prohibited from the slave trade from 1822. Trade extended the political influence of the Zanzibari regime through diplomacy and colonies of traders in the interior.  2
 
c. 1844
 
Arabs established a permanent trading post at Umyanyembe. By 1851, Arabs had pushed the trading frontier west of the Great Lakes.  3
 
1850
 
Kilwa Kivinje became the most important town on the southern Swahili coast for the export of ivory and slaves, traded by Yao and Bisa from the interior and shipped to Zanzibar.  4
 
1854, April 16
 
Sayyid Sa'id left Zanzibar for Oman.  5
 
1860
 
The minaret of the Malindi mosque was built. A Catholic mission was established on Zanzibar.  6
 
1862
 
A United Methodist Free Church mission was established near Mombassa.  7
 
1863
 
A Holy Ghost Fathers mission was established on Zanzibar.  8
 
1868
 
Sir John Kirk began his long-term role as British representative at Zanzibar. Under his influence, the sultan was induced to take measures against the slave trade. Kirk was officially consul general from 1873 to 1886.  9
 
1870–88
 
Bargash Sayyid, sultan of Zanzibar. In 1873, he prohibited the export of slaves by sea. In 1876, he prohibited the movement of slaves overland and closed the Zanzibar slave market.  10
 
1875–93
 
CMS (Church Missionary Society) missions were established on Lake Tanganyika.  11
 
1878
 
German African Society established a number of posts in the region between Bagamoyo and Lake Tanganyika.  12
 
 
 
The Encyclopedia of World History, Sixth edition. Peter N. Stearns, general editor. Copyright © 2001 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Maps by Mary Reilly, copyright © 2001 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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