Swahili Coast Trade Cities : Monsoon Winds :: Islamic Empires : ?

Swahili coast trade cities depended on the predictable monsoon winds to sail between East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. Likewise, the Islamic empires harnessed those same winds to create a vast maritime trade network across the Indian Ocean. This network linked ports in Arabia, Persia, India, and Southeast Asia, allowing the exchange of spices, textiles, and ideas. An example is the 14th‑century city of Kilwa, which prospered by trading with merchants from the Abbasid Caliphate. Thus, Islamic empires relied on maritime trade routes that were made possible by the monsoon winds.