The origin of the name “Swahili” comes from the Arabic word sahil or coast. To summarize the meaning of the word “Swahili”, it literally means “people of the coast”. Modern Kiswalili is Bantu with some Arabic words. These words come from the Arabs who settled in the area and settled with the locals. With the help of Arabic writing, Kiswahili became a written language. After a while, “Swahili” was known as Islamic in religion, but African in language and people. As more Muslims immigrated to the East Coast, their influence grew. They married into ruling families and so mosques were built. Further north, rectangular houses were built and it is assumed that trade developed with Egypt and the Mediterranean. The island of Kilwa, then under Shirazi rule, found a way to control the gold trade. Mogadishu was in charge, using Muslim contacts they organized the transport of gold dust from the “Land of Sofala” to the northern markets. Kilwa merchants sent ships to Sofala and established settlements. By buying directly from interior Africans, Kilwa took over the gold trade from southern Mogadishu in 1200