Zanzibar (/ znz b r/) is the semi-autonomous part of Tanzania in
East Africa. It is composed of the Zanzibar Archipelago in the
Indian cean! "#$#% &ilometres ('$' mi) off the coast of
themainland! and consists of numerous small islands and t*o large
ones+ ,ngua (the main island!referred to informall as Zanzibar) and
emba. The capital is Zanzibar 0it! located on the islandof ,ngua.
Its historic centre is 1tone To*n! *hich is a 2orld 3eritage
1ite.
Zanzibar4s main industries are spices! raffia! and tourism.567
In particular! the islands produceclo8es! nutmeg! cinnamon! and
blac& pepper. 9or this reason! the islands! together
*ithTanzania4s :afia Island! are sometimes called the 1pice Islands
(a term also associated *ith the:alu&u Islands in Indonesia).
Zanzibar is the home of the endemic Zanzibar ;ed 0olobus:on&e!
the Zanzibar 1er8aline eopard.
The presence of microlithic tools suggests that Zanzibar has
been home to humans for at least"%!%%% ears!5#7 *hich *as the
beginning of the >ater 1tone Age.
A ourenPo ;a8asco :arKueslanded and demanded and recei8ed
tribute from the sultan in e=change for peace.5O7+page+ OOZanzibar
remained a possession of ortugal for almost t*o centuries. It
initiall became part of
the ortuguese pro8ince of Arabia and Ethiopia and *as
administered b a go8ernor general.Around '#'! Zanzibar became part
of the *estern di8ision of the ortuguese empire and *asadministered
from :ozambiKue.5'%7+page+ '# It appears! ho*e8er! that the
ortuguese did notclosel administer Zanzibar. The first English ship
to 8isit ,ngua! the Ed*ard Lona8enture in'#O'! found that there *as
no ortuguese fort or garrison. The e=tent of their occupation *as
atrade depot *here produce *as purchased and collected for shipment
to :ozambiKue. JIn otherrespects! the affairs of the island *ere
managed b the local 4&ing4! the predecessor of the
:*ini:&uu of ?unga.J57+page+ M' This hands-off approach ended
*hen ortugal established a fort onemba around '# in response to the
1ultan of :ombasa4s slaughter of ortuguese residentsse8eral ears
earlier. ortugal had long considered emba to be a troublesome
launching point
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for rebellions in :ombasa against ortuguese rule.57+page+ M#
The precise origins of the sultans of ,ngua are uncertain.
3o*e8er! their capital at ,ngua Quu isbelie8ed to ha8e been an
e=tensi8e to*n. ossibl constructed b locals! it *as composed
mainlof perishable materials
In 'OM! Zanzibar fell under the control of the 1ultanate of
man.5''7
In 'M"!5O7+page+ '" or 'M6%5'"7+page+ "!%6# (the date 8aries
among sources)! 1aid bin 1ultanmo8ed his capital from :uscat! man
to 1tone To*n in Zanzibar 0it. After 1aid4s death in Rune'M#! t*o
of his sons! Thu*aini bin 1aid and :aid bin 1aid! struggled o8er
the succession.1aid4s *ill di8ided his dominions into t*o separate
principalities! *ith Thu*aini to become the1ultan of man and :aid
to become the first 1ultan of Zanzibar. The brothers Kuarrelled
aboutthe *ill! *hich *as e8entuall upheld b >ord 0harles
0anning! ine! from 0ape
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?elgado in Africa to ?iu 3ead on the coast of India.5'#7 1aid
lost the re8enue he *ould ha8erecei8ed as dut on all sla8es sold!
so to ma&e up for this shortfall he encouraged thede8elopment
of the sla8e trade in Zanzibar itself.5'#7 1aid came under
increasing pressure fromthe Lritish to abolish sla8er! and in 'M6"
the Lritish go8ernment told the Zanzibari ruler it *ishedto abolish
the sla8e trade to Arabia! man! ersia! and the ;ed 1ea.5'7
1hips from the ;oal a8 *ere emploed to enforce the anti-sla8er
treaties b capturing andho*s carring sla8es! but *ith onl four
ships patrolling a huge area of sea! the Lritish na8found it hard
to enforce the treaties as ships from 9rance!
