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explorers
ZanzibarMagic
currently
takes |
portuguese period 1499 to 1698 |
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| For centuries the Silk Road across central Asia was to transport spices and other luxuries to Europe, but as the | ||
| Arabs came to dominate this region, so they exacted higher and higher levies on the caravans. | ||
| Eventually the Portuguese determined to put a stop to this by finding a sea route to the East. | ||
| Armed with the rediscovered ancient Phoenician maps, Vasco da Gama set out in 1498 around Africa. | ||
| When the Portuguese arrived in the Indian Ocean they were astounded by the extent of the civilsation | ||
| encountered. | ||
| Their ships were nothing compared to the magnificent Arab vessels and they were regarded very much as | ||
| second rate by the Sultans they encountered. | ||
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Nevertheless, they managed to take advantage of local rivalries to gain assistance and passed on to India before returning home. Reports of great wealth of the region got the Portugueses attention and soon 100's of ships were setting out to round the Cape.
The Portuguese took advantage of the fact that the Arabs traditionally fought each other in a very ritualised and almost civilised fashion.
Using all the European 'dirty tricks' of warfare, they soon routed the Arabs and chased them away across the Indian Ocean.
House of Wonder |
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| For 200 years the Portuguese held sway in Zanzibar, but eventually their huge empire became unmanageable. They were too thinly spread and when the Arabs fianlly made their attempt to retake the East Coast of Africa, they managed it and by 1698 had re-established complete control. | ||
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| Zanzibar Island Hotline: +255 (0)777 844 417 | ||