Question

The East African coast was certainly known to the people of Arabia by the eighth century b.c.e. In fact, the ancient Southern Arabian state of Ausan traded extensively there and may have actually held a portion of the coast. Traders who reached the coast discovered a number of potentially valuable raw materials there. Among these were spices, tortoise shell, coconut oil, ivory, and later, gold and slaves.It was not until almost 1000 c.e., however, that the first important commercial city-states emerged along the coast. These city-states fluctuated in wealth and prestige as they competed for coastal hegemony. Because of their way of life, they tended to have a broad regional perspective. Their destinies and fortunes were at least partly determined in distant lands by foreign merchants and rulers.Information on early political aspects of East African states remains very limited. We know that they had kings or sultans, who wielded a good deal of power. Sultans were advised by councils of princes, elders, and members of the ruling household. It seems probable that the sultan and his close relatives controlled the religious and military offices of the state."Terry H. Elkiss, historian, "Kilwa Kisiwani: The Rise of an East African City-State," article published in African Studies Review, a scholarly journal, 1973.The example of an ancient Arabian state that traded extensively and controlled territories on the East African coast can best be used as evidence of

Answer 1

The example of an ancient Arabian state trading on the East African coast provides evidence of the significance of trade and the emergence of commercial city-states.

Step-by-step explanation:

The example of an ancient Arabian state that traded extensively and controlled territories on the East African coast can best be used as evidence of the interconnectedness and importance of trade in the East African region during ancient times. The trade networks established by the Arabian state helped facilitate the exchange of valuable raw materials such as spices, tortoise shells, coconut oil, ivory, gold, and slaves. The emergence of commercial city-states along the coast in the 10th century CE further indicates the economic significance and competition for control over trade routes in the region.