The Swahili people established trade centers along the coast of the Indian Ocean. The Swahili Coast refers to the eastern coast of Africa, spanning from Somalia in the north to Mozambique in the south, where Swahili culture and trading cities flourished. The Indian Ocean provided a vital maritime trade route, connecting the Swahili city-states with other regions, facilitating the exchange of goods, ideas, and cultures between Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.