Final answer:
False. Trading cities appeared before the decline of the kingdom of Axum.
Step-by-step explanation:
False. Trading cities appeared on the East African coast before the decline of the kingdom of Axum. The kingdom of Axum, also known as Aksum, was a powerful trading empire that reached its height in the 4th century CE. However, by the 7th century, Axum began to decline due to factors such as the rise of Islam and shifts in trade routes. During this period, cities like Mogadishu, Mombasa, Kilwa, and Zanzibar emerged as significant trading centers along the East African coast, trading with distant regions such as India, Arabia, and even China.
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