What goods were traded by Swahili city-states?

Gold, ivory, timber, and enslaved people.

Why did Islam become dominant in Swahili civilization?

Influence of Muslim merchants in the Indian Ocean.

Ruled by individual kings focusing on trade.

Exporting gold, farming, and cattle husbandry.

Adopted Islam to facilitate trade across the trans-Saharan Trade Network.

Swahili civilization flourished due to its strategic trade location, interacting with Arabian and Indian merchants for various goods, including enslaved people from the African interior, leading to the dominance of Islam among the Swahili Elite and influencing their language.
The Swahili city-states, ruled by individual kings, prioritized international trade and competition, contrasting with China's centralized governance, elevating merchant Elites over commoners, while Great Zimbabwe and West African House of Kingdoms also thrived through trade, exporting gold, agriculture, and livestock, with the latter adopting Islam to enhance commerce.

What goods were traded by Swahili city-states?
Gold, ivory, timber, and enslaved people.
Why did Islam become dominant in Swahili civilization?
Influence of Muslim merchants in the Indian Ocean.
How were Swahili city-states governed?
Ruled by individual kings focusing on trade.
What characterized Great Zimbabwe as a commercial state?
Exporting gold, farming, and cattle husbandry.
How did West African House of Kingdoms facilitate trade?
Adopted Islam to facilitate trade across the trans-Saharan Trade Network.

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Swahili civilization emerged on Africa's East Coast around the 8th Century, comprising independent city-states benefiting from their strategic location for trade with Arabian and Indian merchants for goods like gold, ivory, timber, and enslaved people sourced from African interior farmers and pastoralists.
Islam became the dominant belief system in the Swahili civilization due to the influence of Muslim merchants in the Indian Ocean, leading to voluntary conversion among the Swahili Elite, connecting them to the wider economic world of Dar al Islam and influencing the Swahili language.
The Swahili city-states were ruled by individual kings, focusing on international trade, with fierce competition among them, contrasting with China's centralized political structure, and the Swahili States' elevation of merchant Elite above commoners.
Great Zimbabwe, a commercial African State, gained wealth through Indian Ocean trade, exporting gold, farming, and cattle husbandry, constructing a massive capital city representing the seat of power, similar to the Swahili States, while West African House of Kingdoms acted as middlemen for goods across the trans-Saharan Trade Network, ruled by kings and adopting Islam to facilitate trade.