Mombasa was founded in the 11th century by the Arabs and developed quickly to a trading metropolis by ivory and slave trades. Vasco da Gama was one of the first European who landed 1498 in Mombasa.
Early the 16th century the Portuguese conquered Mombasa, but were expelled1698 by the Arabs. 1741 Mombasa declared itself independent under the local “Mazrui” dynasty. The Arabs of the “Said” dynasty were 1837 successful after long battles only to establish its leadership over the city finally. Since 1856 Mombasa belonged to the sultanate Zanzibar. 1887 leased the sultan the coast of the today’s Kenya to the Imperial British East African Company.
Mombasa, 799,636 million inhabitants (2005), have a long history as old commercial settlement on the East-African Coast. Its favourable location in the old days, Mombasa was built on an isle, put Mombasa in a preferred lie as Harbour in the Indian ocean with trade connections to Arabia and India.
There from arose the African-Islamic Culture of Mombasa, which still theses days mould the cityscape.
To day the centre of the city is Mombasa Island with an area of 13 square km. To the north is connecting the Nyali Bridge the isle with the mainland and to the west the Makupa Causeway. To the south the isle is connected only by the Likoni ferry with the main land.
The historical city centre, the Old Town, with it’s narrow and crooked lanes is coined by Arabic architecture and culture. The old town with it’s Fort Jesus still tells from the warlike times and the reign by the Arabs, Persians, Portuguese and Britain’s
Early the 16th century the Portuguese conquered Mombasa, but were expelled1698 by the Arabs. 1741 Mombasa declared itself independent under the local “Mazrui” dynasty. The Arabs of the “Said” dynasty were 1837 successful after long battles only to establish its leadership over the city finally. Since 1856 Mombasa belonged to the sultanate Zanzibar. 1887 leased the sultan the coast of the today’s Kenya to the Imperial British East African Company.
Mombasa, 799,636 million inhabitants (2005), have a long history as old commercial settlement on the East-African Coast. Its favourable location in the old days, Mombasa was built on an isle, put Mombasa in a preferred lie as Harbour in the Indian ocean with trade connections to Arabia and India.
There from arose the African-Islamic Culture of Mombasa, which still theses days mould the cityscape.
To day the centre of the city is Mombasa Island with an area of 13 square km. To the north is connecting the Nyali Bridge the isle with the mainland and to the west the Makupa Causeway. To the south the isle is connected only by the Likoni ferry with the main land.
The historical city centre, the Old Town, with it’s narrow and crooked lanes is coined by Arabic architecture and culture. The old town with it’s Fort Jesus still tells from the warlike times and the reign by the Arabs, Persians, Portuguese and Britain’s
