1001 Space Earth Nature History First Civilisations Ancient Egypt Biblical Times Ancient Greece Ancient Rome Chinese, Japanese Civilisations Indian Civilisation African Civilisation The Early Americas The Rise of Islam The Middle Ages The Renaissance Civil War and Revolution The Industrial Revolution Two World Wars 20th-century Achievements Human World Science and Technology

What was the east coast trade? Early traders came to the east coast of Africa from many parts of the world to buy gold and ivory, ostrich feathers, wild animals and rare woods like ebony. They also came to buy human slaves. The east coast was an important trading area for the Romans, and it continued to be important until the 17th century. From the late 15th century, the Portuguese dominated trade with the Arabs on Africa's east coast.   Previous: Back Book: 1001 Section: History Chapter: African Civilisation