Xᵉ siècle – XVIIᵉ siècle
East African coast, present-day Kenya
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Gedi was a medieval Swahili town engaged in Indian Ocean commerce. Its archaeological remains include imported Muslim ceramics, sgraffito wares, celadon, Chinese porcelain, beads, and glassware, while its stone houses and mosque reflect the development of coastal Islamic architecture. Gedi's trade was closely connected with Persian centres, especially Siraf, and its material culture parallels that of Kilwa and other Swahili settlements.
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Le récit
Gedi participated in the commercial system linking the East African coast with Persia and the wider Indian Ocean. Its imports included Muslim black and yellow pottery, yellow and green sgraffito wares, celadon, blue and green glazed ceramics, white porcelain, faience, and numerous types of beads. These materials show sustained exchange even though Arabic sources did not mention the town directly.
The town's principal trading partners were Persian cities, particularly Siraf. Archaeological evidence also records glass vessels and beads, including cane and wound varieties, as well as changes in the relative quantities and colours of imported goods over time. Gedi therefore provides an important archaeological record for reconstructing the changing consumption patterns of Swahili society.
Gedi also belonged to the architectural world of the Swahili coast. Its mosque and stone houses formed part of a building tradition that developed from the twelfth century and incorporated coral masonry, Islamic architectural elements, and local forms. The extract notes both external influences and features incompatible with building prescriptions in Arab countries, underscoring the locally adapted character of coastal architecture.
Xᵉ siècle – XVIIᵉ siècle
East African coast, present-day Kenya
Traduction non disponible · Original (anglais) · français indisponible
Gedi was a medieval Swahili town engaged in Indian Ocean commerce. Its archaeological remains include imported Muslim ceramics, sgraffito wares, celadon, Chinese porcelain, beads, and glassware, while its stone houses and mosque reflect the development of coastal Islamic architecture. Gedi's trade was closely connected with Persian centres, especially Siraf, and its material culture parallels that of Kilwa and other Swahili settlements.
Poursuivre l’exploration
Le récit
Gedi participated in the commercial system linking the East African coast with Persia and the wider Indian Ocean. Its imports included Muslim black and yellow pottery, yellow and green sgraffito wares, celadon, blue and green glazed ceramics, white porcelain, faience, and numerous types of beads. These materials show sustained exchange even though Arabic sources did not mention the town directly.
The town's principal trading partners were Persian cities, particularly Siraf. Archaeological evidence also records glass vessels and beads, including cane and wound varieties, as well as changes in the relative quantities and colours of imported goods over time. Gedi therefore provides an important archaeological record for reconstructing the changing consumption patterns of Swahili society.
Gedi also belonged to the architectural world of the Swahili coast. Its mosque and stone houses formed part of a building tradition that developed from the twelfth century and incorporated coral masonry, Islamic architectural elements, and local forms. The extract notes both external influences and features incompatible with building prescriptions in Arab countries, underscoring the locally adapted character of coastal architecture.
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