page_title: Shirazi era
hierarchical_section_title: Shirazi era
caption_attribution_description: English: Quiloa - bird's-eye view of the city of Kilwa (Tanzania) from Georg Braun and Franz Hogenberg's atlas Civitates orbis terrarum, vol. I, 1572
context_page_description: The "Shirazi era" refers to a mythic origin in the history of Southeast Africa, between the 13th century and 15th century. Many Swahili in the central coastal region claim that their towns were founded by Persians from the Shiraz region in the 13th century. Once accepted as fact, modern research has disproved a Shirazi origin for the Swahili towns, instead emphasizing various social factors that induced claiming this identity.
context_section_description: The "Shirazi era" refers to a mythic origin in the history of Southeast Africa (and especially Tanzania), between the 13th century and 15th century. Many Swahili in the central coastal region claim that their towns were founded by Persians from the Shiraz region in the 13th century. Once accepted as fact, modern research has disproved a Shirazi origin for the Swahili towns, instead emphasizing various social factors that induced claiming this identity.
caption: Kilwa Kisiwani, on the Tanzanian coast. From Civitates orbis terrarum vol. I, by Georg Braun and Franz Hogenberg, 1572
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