Afro-Persian Relation in the Ancient and Early Medieval Time - an Archaeological Perspective

East Africa is the centre for archaeological as well as paleontological studies. Innumerable lower Palaeolithic tools along with human fossils have been discovered by Leakey and his families are good indicators in this respect. Likewise, a recent archaeological discovery throws floods of light on the interaction of east African peoples with the rest of the world.

There was an intimate trading link between east African peoples and peoples of Asia particularly with the Persians for more than millennia. Persia was one among the great powers in the ancient world who had dominated the trade in the ancient Near East as well as Africa. Especially, the coastal parts of east Africa were served as a plat form for the successive trading interaction between peoples of east Africa and Persia from 1^st century B.C till the arrival of European power in the area.

Archaeological evidences in east Africa including the various structures like door ways, doors, buildings which are still standing has their own reflection in the architectural influence of Persians apart from their trading bond. For instance, the excavation conducted at Takwa by British east African studies yields the ruins of doorways and other structures which had resemblance with ancient Persian architectural style.

Besides this, there are also coins as well as potteries unearthed in the excavations conducted in different parts of east Africa. The coins are of the period of Sassanian and parthians as well. Moreover, the name of places like Zanzibar, some letters in Kiswahili language and various festivals being celebrated by peoples of east African coast are some of the living testimonies which proof beyond doubt the inter action existed between Persia and peoples of east Africa