• Preface: Swahili Worlds: A Medieval African Urban Civilization; 1. Foundations of a Medieval African Urban Civilization; 2. The Rise of the Medieval Swahili State; 3. What Was the Medieval East African World Like?; 4. Global Connections; 5. Asian Connections; 6. Who Were the Medieval East Africans?; Appendices.

'Kusimba's approach of presenting his ideas in accessible language has made his work highly readable to audiences even outside archaeology, history and anthropology. … Despite having read hundreds of publications and reports about the Swahili coast and vicinity, I benefitted greatly from reading this book. Combining multiple, interlinked sources to analyse and write about the Swahili worlds makes Kusimba's volume exceptional. Without any reservation, I recommend it to anyone interested in learning about ancient African globalism but with a focus on the western Indian Ocean region.' Elgidius B. Ichumbaki, Antiquity