Final answer:
The Indian Ocean trade had a comprehensive impact on Swahili civilization, fostering its development, urbanization, and population growth in commercial areas, all supporting the overall prosperity of the region.
Step-by-step explanation:
The impact of the Indian Ocean trade on Swahili civilization was multifaceted, leading to the growth and prosperity of Swahili city-states along the East African coast.
This trade network helped to flourish the Swahili civilization, increased its population in commercial areas, and created more of an urban environment. The strategic location of the city-states and the use of monsoon winds facilitated the seasonal trade.
Goods such as gold, ivory, and iron from the interior were traded for items from Arabia, Persia, and Asia. The integration of Islam and the development of trade led to a vibrant, urban culture characterized by a mix of African-Arab ancestry, which further facilitated trade and communication with other trading hubs within the Islamic world.