Classify the following trade participants based on their primary region of influence in the Indian Ocean Trade: Swahili coast cities, Islamic empires, India, and China. Which category does each belong to and why?

Swahili coast cities belong to the East African region because their trade hubs like Kilwa and Mombasa were located along the Kenyan and Tanzanian coast, exchanging goods with the rest of the Indian Ocean. Islamic empires belong to the Arabian Peninsula and Persia region, as they controlled maritime routes from the Gulf of Aden to the Persian Gulf and used their naval power to dominate trade. India falls under the South Asian region, with cities such as Calicut and Madurai serving as major ports that exported spices, textiles, and precious metals. China is part of the East Asian region, highlighted by the voyages of Zheng He, who brought Chinese goods to the Indian Ocean and established a Chinese presence on the coast of Southeast Asia. Each participant’s primary region is determined by the geographic location of its main ports and the cultural or political influence that shaped its trade activities.