Master's Thesis in the subject Archaeology, grade: 6.8, University of Amsterdam (Archaeology), language: English, abstract: The Swahili coast is a territory inhabited by the Swahili people along the Indian Ocean in East Africa. The main focus area of research of this thesis is the delta of the Rufiji River and Mafia archipelago, where archaeologists have done some extensive work. In particular, this thesis discusses the claims made about the discovery of the site of Rhapta, which dates back to the first-century C.E., and that has been thought to be one of the Roman trade stops along the Indian Ocean. The Swahili coast, also known as Azania or Zingion, was reported in Graeco-Roman documents such as the writings of Pliny the Elder and the so-called Periplus of the Erythraean Sea as Rhapta, a capital city of Azania having trade exchange with Romans. These claims of the discovery of Rhapta are part of many debates concerning the Indian Ocean trade on the Swahili coast in general during the East African Iron Age period (ca. 100 to 400 CE). The thesis presented herein assesses through an extensive review of relevant literature the claims that have been made regarding the existence and reasons for possible contacts between ancient Swahili coast and ancient Roman World.
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