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The
Arabs founded Malindi as a town in the early
thirteenth century. Before the arrival in East
Africa of Arab from Arabia and the Persian Gulf
the town of Malindi most likely did not exist.
In this time the economy depended on fishing,
hunting, agriculture, collecting of salt and an
extensive trade in the Indian Ocean. Until the
end of the fifteenth century Malindi had
probably reached its zenith.
On
the 15th
April 1498 Vasco da Gama reached
Malindi.
Malindi was at this time a kingdom and a wealthy
town.
The
inhabitants were mixed. The ruling class was the
Arabs, the majority the Africans and because of
the trade there were also some Indians. In
Malindi were living around 1000 Arabs, 2500
Africans in or by Malindi and additional 2000
Africans in the surrounding plantations.
Malindis extension was app. 600 m along the
seafront and inland up to 250 meters. Walls
surrounded the town. The Arabs were living
inside the walls in stone houses, the African
mainly outside in mud-and-wattle huts with palm
thatch roofs. The houses of the Arabs were
rectangular, multi-storied houses made out of
coral stones with flat roof and mangrove rafters
used to support the ceiling. The rooms were
designed around a central courtyard.
The
economy consisted of agriculture and trade with
various ports in the Indian Ocean. Around
Malindi were large plantations with fruits
(lemons, oranges), coconut palm trees,
vegetables (millet, rice, sugar cane), cattle
and meats. Slaves and ivory were exported.
Malindi was an important port in East Africa.
Because of the monsoon places all over the
Indian Ocean could be reached. Malindi had an
increasing importance throughout the fifteenth
century....
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History from 16th Century »
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