East Africa bordering the Indian Ocean is known as the Swahili coast, and it is home to the Swahili people. The claims surrounding a Swahili-Roman connection, dating back to the first century C.E., have prompted a great deal of academic investigation into the Rufiji River and the Mafia archipelago. One of the Roman trading posts along the Indian Ocean route called Rhapta has been proposed here. The discovery of Rhapta contribute to ongoing discussions surrounding the Indian Ocean trade along the Swahili coast between 100BC and 400 CE.
The commerce of the Indian Ocean, frequently referred to as the "Maritime Silk Road," constitutes a network of trade routes that spans the extensive area of the Indian Ocean. Throughout its history, the Indian Ocean Trade experienced several significant peaks, particularly characterised by direct maritime links between Bronze Age Egypt and India through the Red Sea. The Indo-Mediterranean trade network, which reached Japan during the early Yayoi period, further substantiated this assertion. Trade between the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Greece and India commenced approximately in 130 BC. The Roman conquest of the Mediterranean region led to a significant reduction in the taxes imposed by intermediaries along various land-based trade routes, as well as a substantial increase in direct maritime commerce with India.
During the initial two centuries of the Common Era, there was a significant rise in commerce between Rome and India. Scott and colleagues (2021) revealed evidence indicating that the Indus Valley Civilisation engaged in significant interactions with East Africa. Examining the evidence and methodologies employed in the investigation of the relationship between the Swahili Coast and the Roman world will facilitate a clearer understanding of the assertions made. The Swahili coast continues to be a region that has not been thoroughly examined within the context of early maritime exchanges in the Indian Ocean rim. This work is pertinent to the current context of historical archaeology and the decolonisation process, as well as to demonstrate the importance of diversifying archaeological research in less familiar regions.
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- Christina Feza (Autor), 2023, Revisiting the Swahili-Roman Connection (100 B.C.–400 C.E.). What Evidence Supports Trade Claims?, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1565294
