Examine the role of the Indian Ocean trade in the rise and growth of the Swahili city states.

The question requires that candidates consider the interrelationship between the Indian Ocean trade and the rise and growth of the Swahili city states. Candidates may refer to ways in which entrepot ports such as Kilwa, Malindi and Zanzibar emerged in response to emerging maritime trade networks, as well as how wealth generated by the trade promoted territorial expansion along the coast, and how its economic influence penetrated the interior as demand grew for goods such as ivory and slaves. While other relevant interrelationships, for example the impact of cultural factors such as the Islamic faith and Swahili lingua franca on the growth of the city states, may be considered to provide context, the bulk of the response will remain on the role of the Indian Ocean trade.